[Paper Review] The Imperatives of Cosmic Biology

Carl H. Gibson, N. C. Wickramasinghe|arXiv (Cornell University)|Feb 27, 2010

Spaceflight effects on biology7 references3 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes that life originated only once in the universe through a rare, early transformation of organic molecules into self-replicating microorganisms, followed by cosmic-scale dispersal via panspermia. Using modified big bang cosmology and fluid mechanics, it argues that galaxies and clusters function as interconnected biospheres driven by lateral gene transfer, star-planet interactions, and stellar nucleosynthesis, with life formation being inevitable once conditions allow, though not guaranteed on any single planet.

ABSTRACT

The transformation of organic molecules into the simplest self-replicating living system,a microorganism, is accomplished from a unique event or rare events that occurred early in the Universe. The subsequent dispersal on cosmic scales and evolution of life is guaranteed, being determined by well-understood processes of physics and biology. Entire galaxies and clusters of galaxies can be considered as connected biospheres, with lateral gene transfers, as initially theorized by Joseph (2000), providing for genetic mixing and Darwinian evolution on a cosmic scale. Big bang cosmology modified by modern fluid mechanics suggests the beginning and wide intergalactic dispersal of life occurred immediately after the end of the plasma epoch when the gas of protogalaxies in clusters fragmented into clumps of planets. Stars are born from binary mergers of such planets within such clumps. When stars devour their surrounding planets to excess they explode, distributing necessary fertilizing chemicals created only in stars with panspermial templates created only in adjacent planets, moons and comets, to be gravitationally collected by the planets and further converted to living organisms. Recent infrared images of nearby star forming regions suggest that life formation on planets like Earth is possible, but not inevitable.

Motivation & Objective

• To propose that the emergence of life is a deterministic outcome of cosmic evolution, initiated by a single rare event in the early universe.
• To argue that life spreads across galaxies through panspermia, facilitated by lateral gene transfer and stellar activity.
• To integrate fluid mechanics and big bang cosmology to model the formation and dispersal of life-supporting planetary clumps.
• To explain how stars, planets, and stellar remnants contribute to the chemical and biological seeding of new planetary systems.
• To reconcile observational data—such as infrared star-forming region images—with the inevitability of life under suitable conditions.

Proposed method

• Modeling the post-plasma epoch universe using modified big bang cosmology and fluid dynamics to simulate protogalactic gas fragmentation into planet-forming clumps.
• Applying principles of stellar evolution to explain how binary planet mergers lead to star formation.
• Using nucleosynthesis theory to trace the origin of fertilizing chemicals (e.g., organic precursors) created in stars and delivered via supernovae.
• Proposing that panspermic templates—biological building blocks—form on adjacent planets, moons, and comets and are gravitationally collected by new planets.
• Integrating lateral gene transfer across interstellar and intergalactic distances as a mechanism for Darwinian evolution on cosmic scales.
• Analyzing infrared observations of star-forming regions to assess the feasibility of life emergence on Earth-like planets.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What physical and biological processes determine the initial emergence of self-replicating life in the early universe?
• RQ2 How does lateral gene transfer enable Darwinian evolution across galactic and intergalactic scales?
• RQ3 What role do stellar explosions and planet formation play in distributing life-sustaining chemicals across cosmic structures?
• RQ4 Why is life formation on Earth-like planets possible but not inevitable, according to observational and theoretical constraints?
• RQ5 How do modified big bang cosmology and fluid mechanics explain the wide dispersal of life after its initial origin?

Key findings

• The origin of life is proposed as a unique, rare event occurring early in cosmic history, followed by inevitable dispersal across the universe.
• Galaxies and galaxy clusters are conceptualized as interconnected biospheres due to lateral gene transfer and interstellar material exchange.
• Stars form from binary mergers of planet-sized clumps in protogalactic gas, linking planetary formation to stellar birth.
• Stellar explosions (supernovae) disperse fertilizing chemicals and panspermic templates, enabling life formation on new planets.
• Infrared images of star-forming regions support the possibility of life emergence, though not its inevitability on individual planets.
• The combination of fluid mechanics and cosmology suggests that life's dispersal is governed by well-understood physical processes, making cosmic-scale biosphere evolution a predictable outcome.