‘Hubris to suggest we know what we are looking for'

INTERVIEW PUSHKAR GANESH VAIDYA

- Anita Babu

Pushkar Ganesh Vaidya, head scientist of the Indian Astrobiology Research Centre (IARC) and founder-director of the Indian Astrobiology Research Foundation (IARF), is a leading global scientist and philosopher in astrobiology—the study of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the universe. Apart from over two decades of experience in academics and research, Pushkar has authored several books and short courses in the field of space sciences, humanitarian action and climate action.

He is also the chief mission scientist of Bijayan Cosmos, an IARFled nano-spacecraft mission to near-earth space to test the hypothesis of panspermia. In an interview with THE WEEK, Vaidya shares his views on UFOs, and what the declassification of the files by the US means. Edited excerpts:

What is the possibility of existence of life/intelligence beyond Earth?

It is believed that microbial life might be more common than intelligent life in the universe. However, I do not buy this view because most of the hard work is involved in making the first living cell from inanimate matter; thereafter, it is easier to make multicellular lifeforms. There is no strong reason to believe microbial life will be common. However, the mechanism of panspermia, if proven, may help dot the universe with microbial life. It is the travel of viable microbes embedded in comets from planets to planets, stars to stars and even galaxies to galaxies.