Earth and Planetary Science

Some Remarks about Asteroid Impact Triggered “Bioaerosol” Escape during a Putative Microbial Exchange between Early Earth and Mars

Balázs Bradák

Laboratory of Exo-Oceanography, Faculty of Oceanology, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukaeminami-machi, Higashinada-ku, Kobe, 658-0022, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36956/eps.v2i2.860

Received: 17 May 2023; Revised: 28 June 2023; Accepted: 30 June 2023; Published Online: 10 July 2023

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Abstract

In general, Panspermia theory discusses the possibility of the spread of life in the universe. The migration of living organisms between planets is crucial in such a “fertilization” process. This study focuses on one particular case and phase of such migration: the possible material transport between the early Earth and Mars with a focus on the phase of escape, i.e., the ejection of a microorganism-containing material into space. Specific characteristics of asteroid impacts and one of the possible processes, which may be able to transfer microorganisms to space, were investigated. The comparison of the terrestrial and Martian paleoenvironment showed that theoretically, early Mars, similar to Earth, might allow biological evolution and might be able to harbor life. Determining various pressure zones regarding the survivability of the mechanical compression in the case of an impact and the characterization of specific physical parameters of the ejected debris lead to the identification of the pressure—mass/size conflict and the conclusion, which indicates two possible ways of material escape. The possibly “common” and known way is the material ejection close to ground zero. It guarantees big enough debris to protect its passengers during their travel. Still, the survival rate at/close to ground zero is supposedly low, and the heat and overpressure-related compression may sterilize the material even before boarding. An alternative way, discussed in this study, provides a higher chance of survival further from the impact center. Still, the possibility of the ejectile reaching the escaping velocity and the minimum required size is low. Although solving such a problem is out of the scope of this manuscript, searching for an ideal combination of various parameters is a possible challenge for future studies.

Keywords: Early Earth; Early Mars; Panspermia; Escape phase; Asteroid impact

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