COSMOZOE 53 



The theory of cosmozoe. 



The idea that fragments of stars bearing the seeds of life 

 might reach the Earth and thus impregnate it was discussed 

 as far back as the beginning of last century by the French- 

 man de Montlivault.^" It was later developed by H. Richter^* 

 in 1865. He started from the hypothesis that when celestial 

 bodies are in rapid motion small pieces or solid particles may 

 become separated or torn off from them. It might be that 

 the viable germs of micro-organisms were attached to the 

 particles at the time when they became separated from the 

 celestial bodies. Furthermore, these particles would wander 

 in interstellar space and might, by chance, arrive on other 

 heavenly bodies. When these germs fell on a planet where 

 the conditions were favourable for life (suitable conditions 

 of moisture and temperature) they would start to develop 

 and, in the course of time, they would establish themselves 

 as the ancestors of all living things on that particular planet. 

 Richter assimied that somewhere in space there are always 

 celestial bodies on w^hich life exists in the form of cells. This 

 idea was later developed by M. Wagner,^^ who considered 

 that " the atmospheres of the heavenly bodies, and also the 

 swirling cosmic mists may be regarded as eternal repositories 

 of living forms, as perpetual plantations of organic germs ". 

 Thus life is scattered throughout the universe and travels in 

 the form of germs within meteorites. 



Richter paid special attention to the possibility that viable 

 germs might be carried through interstellar space. He 

 pointed out that the germs of living things can exist for long 

 periods without nutrients and water, remaining in a more 

 or less inanimate state, and may then rea^vaken to a new 

 life, though only when the necessary conditions are fulfilled. 

 As a result of this capacity they may make very long journeys. 

 The only hazard to which the germs of life are submitted 

 arises from the increase in temperature which occurs as a 

 result of the tremendous friction generated between the 

 meteorites and the atmosphere of the Earth. However, 

 Richter points out that some meteorites contain traces of 

 carbon and other easily combustible substances. If these 

 substances can reach the Earth without being burnt, it is 



