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Octopuses from the Sky: Scientists Propose “Aliens Seeded Life on Earth”

Photo: Octopus tetricus (Gloomy Octopus), by Sylke Rohrlach (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

On a classic episode of ID the Future, host Sarah Chaffee and biologist Ann Gauger discuss panspermia, the topic of a peer-reviewed paper by several quite serious scientists. Panspermia tries to sidestep problems in origins biology by suggesting that, to recall the title of an old science fiction movie, “it came from outer space.” And yes, according to this explanation, maybe aliens even sent it our way. Maybe (honest — this is a real theory) the first octopuses came here special delivery, as encapsulated embryos falling from the sky. Anything but intelligent design, for these sober scientists. Dr. Gauger understands what drove the scientists to such an explanation. Download the podcast or listen to it here.