Two discoveries I want to talk about come from the realm of telescopes (outer space) and a microscope (inner space).
One discovery involves very old planets, which, as discussed later in the post, seems to possibly challenge the time line of Big Bang cosmology (a.k.a. abiotic evolution).
The other involves microbes that use molecular machines to de-construct rocks and metals, then use the resulting atomic parts to generate energy for the microbes' own use; a phenomenon which has generated an interesting observation (by the professor who discovered them) that those microbes "had to have invented wonderful machines" (see video below).
The third issue is an old, rejected one ("genetic memory") that one doctor is trying to resurrect.
I. Rock Microbes
This may involve some of the first molecular machines used by microbes:
A founding father of geobiology, Nealson's interdisciplinary approach is seen in his work between the geological and microbiological sciences. His geobiology work began in the 1970s with his research on the biochemistry of iron and manganese in freshwater and marine environments. It led to the isolation and characterization of one of the first dissimilatory metal-reducing microbes, Shewanella oneidensis, that has developed into an important model environmental microorganism.(American Society for Microbiology Honors Kenneth H. Nealson, cf. Microbes Eat Rocks, Pop Science, NAS Sites, U. of Cal. 2009).
A pioneer of the bioluminescence field, Nealson was the first to describe the phenomenon of quorum sensing in luminescent bacteria that were symbionts in various marine organisms. This work encompassed microbial ecology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics.
Recently, Nealson and colleagues have researched the function of microbial fuel cells, carbon and nitrogen processing in cyanobacteria using nano-SIMS, the genomics of important metal-biotransforming microorganisms, and the mechanisms of microbial mineral formation and dissolution. They have made exciting discoveries leading to applications, such as removal of toxic metals in water and electricity production. He is a key member of the astrobiology community and trusted NASA advisor. His creative thinking, scientific interests, and dedication to mentoring inspire the scientific community and students alike.
II. Old Planets
Another discovery bears upon the Big Bang time line, as well as on the time when the first carbon was made in stars, so as to make our carbon-based Earth-life forms possible:
Five rocky alien worlds that are 80 percent as old as the universe itself have been discovered, suggesting that Earth-size planets have been a feature of the Milky Way galaxy almost since its beginning.(Old Planets Discovered). Several questions: what about the accuracy of their technique ("asteroseismology") for determining the age of that star; what generation (e.g. 1st, 2nd, 3rd) of star is at the center of that 5 planet solar system (e.g. On the Origin of the Genes of Viruses - 8); did carbon form in that star (On the Origin of the Genes of Viruses - 6); if not, but carbon was formed in an earlier incarnation of that star and was ejected when it went nova, then carbon-based life thereafter evolved, did any resulting civilizations on any of those 5 planets destroy themselves because their intelligence was a lethal mutation like our own (What Kind of Intelligence Is A Lethal Mutation?); and how does this conform to the current Big Bang theory and time line (Big Bang -> elements appear -> galaxy / star formation -> carbon formed in stars -> carbon released upon star's demise -> carbon ends up on planets -> carbon-based life evolves on those planets) ?
The newfound exoplanets circle Kepler-444, an 11.2-billion-year-old star about 25 percent smaller than the sun that lies 117 light-years from Earth. All of the worlds are Venus-size or smaller and are therefore rocky, though scientists know nothing else about their composition.
All five alien planets complete an orbit in less than 10 days, meaning they're almost certainly too hot to support life as we know it. But Kepler-444 hints at the existence of other ancient planetary systems that may be more hospitable, researchers said.
"We now know that Earth-sized planets have formed throughout most of the universe’s 13.8-billion-year history, which could provide scope for the existence of ancient life in the galaxy," lead study author Tiago Campante, of the University of Birmingham in England, said in a statement.
For perspective, Earth and everything else in our own solar system formed about 4.6 billion years ago.
III. Genetic Memory vs. Epigenetics
It has been the consensus of scientists for some time that Lamarckism is wrong (On The Origin of Genieology, 2, 3; cf. Genetic Memory).
Nevertheless, an article recently appeared in Scientific American espousing genetic memory, which is Lamarckian (Genetic Memory: How We Know Things We Never Learned).
Other developments have shown that some behavior generated aspects of a parent are passed on in some species, but there is a debate as to whether it is genetic or epigenetic:
"The key question isn’t whether this so-called ‘transgenerational epigenetic inheritance’ happens — it does— but rather how it happens (and how frequently, and in what contexts and species)."(Mice Inherit Specific Memories, Because Epigenetics?). The details are being sorted out, but all agree that more experiments which are more closely controlled and performed are needed.
Perhaps the comment section will have some ideas on some or all of these subjects.
Have a good and rebellious scientific weekend.
Microbe species which have existed for billions of years "... had to have invented wonderful machines ..." says Dr. Nealson in this video:
Dr. Bonnie L. Bassler of Princeton University explains the wonderful language microbes use to communicate: