Overcoming Bias : Pondering Panspermia

Description

Pondering Panspermia

Over the last few days I’ve neglected my duties to obsessively browse the last seven years of three journals: Astrobiology, International Journal of Astrobiology , and Origins of Life . In the process I’ve become converted to a more expansive version panspermia – life here probably originated outside our solar system. I’ve also learned: panspermia is no longer a marginalized view . It may not yet be the majority opinion, but it shows up often in journal articles and conference proceedings, if not in summaries intended for wider audiences.

My interest in panspermia over the years was probably heightened by my sense that it seemed more believable than its apparent outcast status suggested – I may have hoped for the glory of being an early supporter of a crazy-seeming view that eventually became the consensus view. But that hope neglected the prospect that many other young researchers shared my opinion – I’d have to distinguish myself among ...

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http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/11/pondering-panspermia.html

http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/11/pondering-panspermia.html