Is human life in peril if a virus from another planet is introduced to Earth?

Question

With talk of visiting Mars in the not-to-distant future, are we setting ourselves up for a massive plague by bringing foreign bacteria back to Earth?

Answer 1

A virus? No, an alien virus couldn't possibly pose any risk to terrestrial life. Viruses depend entirely on the host cellular machinery to reproduce and there is simplu no way that organisms from another planet could share sufficient similarity to allow viral replication.

Bacteria? Yes, bacteria could pose a massive threat to terrestrial life.

Answer 2

There are only a few known viruses which can pass between species. Certain forms of Ebola, HIV, avian flu and Parvo are some examples. Most virii on this planet only effect one species or type of animal. It is unlikely that a virus from another planet would be able to survive on this planet let alone in a human body. The most likely virii to survive in a new environment are those that mutate rapidly.
The bacteria would be another problem entirely, since they have different methods of replication and Bacteria can survive in many types of environments we are at more risk from an extraterrestrial bacteria, however there is no evidence that any bacteria have ever existed on Mars, even if they do or did, NASA would likely quarantine the astronauts upon their return, and sterilize all equipment.

Answer 3

Saphira, life could exist on mars. Life isnt http://www.spacejay.com/Evidence/Alien-Fotos/alien-37.jpg - like in appearance, but could look like anything. For instance, I kind of think that this person is right in a sence. There is a possibility that life on mars, or almost any planet, could be bacteria - like, and could possibly infect us. The bacteria organisms might even be parasitic in a may, devouring nutriants, and infecting soil, which would harm us.

Life doesnt need water or whatever we need to survive. They just need adaptaions to live. Earth is a planet where life was meant to adapt and grow at a fast rate, not the only place where life can last. Some examples of life on earth that dont need such stuff are Plants, fungis, lichins, and others.

Answer 4

Well, if life is like Star Wars, it shouldn't. They can go the various systems with other specis and still be fine. Although talking like that, they could create special viruses (like the Separatists inventing an anti-Clone virus). So who's to say that the alien species might actually use chemical warfare against us? We already have seen that happen here on Earth, by just the terrorists in the Middle East.

Answer 5

If anything that resembled life or viruses was on another planet (highly doubtful), it would unlikely be able to survive Earth's climate. I would not worry about viruses from Mars. There is not even any place a virus-like thing could survive there.

Answer 6

well, anything is possible

but it is way way way more likely that a virus from earth, adapted to earth and earth creatures like humans, would be more dangerous than any "space" virus

if you want to worry about a plague, worry about constantly mutating earth viruses

space viruses are unlikely to find our bodies hospitable

Answer 7

No, a virus would be adapted to the beings on that planet, it wouldn't be able to attack humans.

Unless humans and these aliens have a common ansestor.

Answer 8

i Dont think so there may be uknown bacteria on mars but they'll check for4 that before coming back to earth or even before going to mars

Answer 9

It happened before. When the white people came bringing small pox to the native Americans, its going to kill many people.

Answer 10

Ummm, didn't you know that there is no life currently on Mars?