Something I push on now and then is the literal interpretation of the 1950’s “Life in Outer Space” Here I’d like to talk about recent findings about (dark, dusty) fungus, and correlate them to the specific albedos (measurment of shiny or dull) of asteroids.

Certain asteroids are very dark and dusty. Certain fungi that greatly enjoy high levels of radiation are very dark and dusty. Given that the high melanin levels make the fungus even darker, I think we could soon stop saying “soot” and start saying “life”.

>> Ionizing Radiation Changes the Electronic Properties of Melanin and Enhances the Growth of Melanized Fungi

>> Asteroid albedos: graphs of data (from IRAS)

Be sure to note the density of ~3AU that is beneath .2e (!)

I would like to further add: the second graph, starting just over 2 astronomical units, and going to just past 3, could be indicative of preferential advantage gaining activity based on asteroid composition, factors such as pH or specific mineral content. I’m not saying predation, just preferencial activity.

>> Dawn mission homepage at Nasa.gov

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