India to search for extra terrestrial life forms

India to search for extra terrestrial life forms
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

THIRUVANATHAPURAM, MAY 21: The Inter-university Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune and the Indian Space Research Organisation would jointly conduct a 'balloon flight experiment' to ascertain the existence of extra terrestrial micro organisms in the universe, Centre Director Dr J V Narlikar said on Sunday.

Speaking at a meet-the-press programme, organised by the Trivandrum Press Club here, he said the experiment would be conducted from the Balloon Launching Facility Centre at Hyderabad during October or November this year.

One set of materials collected would be tested at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, while another would be sent to a university in England.

The result was expected in one or two months after the launch, he said adding that a positive result would generate great excitement all over the world.

ISRO was sponsoring and funding the project, he said, adding that other organisations were also involved in it.

"A higher concentration of bacteria in upper atmospheric regions would suggest an injection from outer space," he said.

To questions on astronomy and astrology, he said there was no relation between the two. He also termed as 'modern superstition,' the belief in vaasthu shastra.