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On methods of detection of extraterrestrial life
A A Imshenetsky1, M D Evdokimova, G G Sotnikov
1Institute of Microbiology, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow, USSR.
Life Sciences and Space Research
|January 1, 1976
Abstract:
New methods have been developed for detecting microbial growth from the microflora of desert soils. The first is a polarimetric method in which the fall in optical activity due to assimilation of D-glucose is followed. Detectable changes with desert soils were seen in a few hours, and the method can be employed with small amounts of material. The second method is the release of heat from metabolizable substrates as measured by a microcalorimeter. In the presence of glucose a characteristic response from desert soils was found within 24 hours.