Is Pan Spermia a Viable Explanation?

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In a collision between an asteroid and a planet, it can send shock waves through the surrounding terrain of sufficient ferocity that it can fling rocks to escape velocity from that planet. Microbes are in that rock as it gets cast out into space. Now, what happens next? Well, eventually these rocks will land on another planet. If there is any variant of a microbe that could surv ive those conditions, then that microbe would be alive on arrival to earth. O and thereby seeding life with on earth, with life that began on mars.

In this thought-provoking conversation on life, the universe, and everything, Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles the world’s most important philosophical questions about the universe with wit, wisdom, and cutting-edge science. For science geeks, space and physics nerds, and all who want to understand their place in the universe, this enlightening new book offers a unique take on the mysteries and curiosities of the cosmos, building on rich material from his beloved StarTalk podcast, along with dozens of his most popular tweets on science. Shermer and Tyson discuss: the universe, multiverse, big bang, big rip, dark matter, dark energy, gravity, gravitational waves, origins of morality, hard problem of consciousness, consensus science, the unknown, Fermi’s paradox, extraterrestrials, and artificial intelligence.