panspermia
Noun
Meaning
panspermia (uncountable)
(biology) The hypothesis that microorganisms may transmit life from outer space to habitable bodies; or the process of such transmission.
Related terms
Examples
Of the 6 missions flown so far on BIOPAN between 1992 and 2007, dozens of experiments were conducted, and some analyzed the likelihood of panspermia.
Directed panspermia concerns the deliberate transport of microorganisms in space, sent to Earth to start life here, or sent from Earth to seed new stellar systems with life.
Similar solar sailing launch and capture were suggested for directed panspermia to expand life in other solar system.
The purpose is to assess the panspermia hypothesis and the possibility of natural interplanetary transport of life and its precursors.