Cell-like structure from 2001 "red rain" in India may respark alien life debate

The Extraordinary Tale of Red Rain, Comets and Extraterrestrials [technologyreview.com]

Quote : For years, claims have circulated that red rain which fell in India in 2001, contained cells unlike any found on Earth. Now new evidence that these cells can reproduce is about to set the debate alive

Wicked!

interesting but not independently verified. In fact, it seems rather bizarre that it took them 9 years to figure out how the cells replicate. how do they know what to feed them??? paint me a skeptic.

Quote from SiliconJon : The Extraordinary Tale of Red Rain, Comets and Extraterrestrials [technologyreview.com] Wicked!

Don't be fooled, it's just a well-planned campaign for the relauch of the V television series.

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4224

"And so, to summarize the background of the finding that Kerala's red rain consisted of alien cells, we have a completely hypothetical supposition put forth to explain bad data resulting from a methodological error by scientists working outside their discipline. There never was any uncertainty about the algae among Indian botanists, there was only a week or two after the rainfall until what they suspected was confirmed; and yet, it's nearly impossible to find this true cause of the red rain in pop culture. Even today, the overwhelming majority of articles written about Kerala's red rain promote the extraterrestrial alien spore theory. Documentary films are still being made today that make no mention of the algae, but publicize only the sensational alien theory. News articles continue to parrot the misconception that the cells contain no DNA, continuing to quote only Godfrey Louis and the two or three other non-botanists whom he has managed to convince of his alien theory.

All too often, we give undue credence to incredible stories simply because they've been written up in a magazine or broadcast on the news. The red rain of India is one powerful example of the need to provide extraordinary evidence to support an extraordinary claim, and it fails that test."

/thread

"/thread" - to think one's own opinion sufficient to end all other aspects of the conversation! lol, and excellent example of [unqualified] American Arrogance.

Even if that post is spot on there's still plenty of room for discussion on the behavior and science that surround the [conflict/conspiracy/popculture/fallacy/etc] at the center of the opposition.

Uhm, V anyone?

Let's see, we already have birthers and truthers so this would be......cellers?

Quote from DarthSaver : Let's see, we already have birthers and truthers so this would be......cellers?

I think this would just be SiliconJon.

Hey, I haven't even delved into the "birther" issue!

Quote from LivninSC : Uhm, V anyone?

Did you know there are people who believe a situation quite similar is actually true on our current earth? I'm not one of them...but they are out there!

Quote from SiliconJon : "/thread" - to think one's own opinion sufficient to end all other aspects of the conversation! lol, and excellent example of [unqualified] American Arrogance. Even if that post is spot on there's still plenty of room for discussion on the behavior and science that surround the [conflict/conspiracy/popculture/fallacy/etc] at the center of the opposition.

do you believe these are alien cells? if so, why? Frankly i don't see any real debate from you on this subject so it strikes me as odd that you launch a personal attack on another poster who posts a contrary opinion (in which legit links exist).

The "attack" was merely on their "/thread" portion, which was actually in regards to many who use the term as an unnecessary arrogance.

Their counter argument, however, may indeed be entirely legitimate - I meant not to include that in my protest against the use of "/thread". I know not which argument is more valid without further reading and analysis and I have no predisposition against "mainstream media" being a farce - in fact I tend to agree on that point, assuredly.

Quote from SiliconJon : The "attack" was merely on their "/thread" portion, which was actually in regards to many who use the term as an unnecessary arrogance. Their counter argument, however, may indeed be entirely legitimate - I meant not to include that in my protest against the use of "/thread". I know not which argument is more valid without further reading and analysis and I have no predisposition against "mainstream media" being a farce - in fact I tend to agree on that point, assuredly.

great. but you still offer nothing to debate. And if there is nothing further to debate then why continue with the thread?

I think they are on to something

I mean Purple Rain was sang by an alien who was appareantly good at basketball...

Quote from SiliconJon : "/thread" - to think one's own opinion sufficient to end all other aspects of the conversation! lol, and excellent example of [unqualified] American Arrogance. Even if that post is spot on there's still plenty of room for discussion on the behavior and science that surround the [conflict/conspiracy/popculture/fallacy/etc] at the center of the opposition.

Actually, it wasn't my opinion, it was an article I read about the real reason for the red rain. If you think that it's incorrect or biased, please inform me as to why; a link of your own refuting the Indian scientists might be nice.

Also, you don't know much about me, so how would you conclude that I'm American, or especially arrogant? Is your analysis an example of "unqualified American Arrogance," or is it something different?

If I started "discussing the behavior of science that surround the fallacy at the center of the opposition," (which side is the opposition again?), wouldn't that be going off topic, since it wasn't the original topic? I'm new around here; it's a serious question.

Kind regards