Study finds increased likelihood that impacts spread life from Earth

BBC : According to vast computer simulations of debris thrown up from asteroid impacts on Earth, more life-bearing particles could have been scattered to Mars, Jupiter, or even beyond our solar system than previously thought. Mauricio Reyes-Ruiz of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and his colleagues have carried out the largest-ever simulations of the process, which considered impacts of varying intensity. Because of new and better computing systems, the researchers were able to study the effects over much longer time periods, up to millions of years. The most important question, however, is whether any ejecta could carry living cargo. The researchers think so, as such small, hardy organisms as water bears have already demonstrated their ability to survive the harsh conditions of space. Preliminary results were presented at January’s American Astronomical Society meeting .