Did dinosaurs come to Earth from space debris? Do they exist today on other planets? Do they have special powers that allow them to travel through the universe? The scientific community has changed its mind about the extinction of dinosaurs.
For example, scientists once assumed that a big meteorite ushered in their demise. Some scientists believed that an asteroid or a giant volcanic eruption killed the dinosaurs. The dominant theory is that an asteroid impact led to global climate change and mass extinction, but this might not be the whole story either.
Dinosaurs are no longer alive, but their footprint is everywhere in our world. Who created them remains one of the most hotly debated mysteries in our planet’s history. Some believe that aliens have visited Earth multiple times and brought dinosaurs to this planet.
Some people believe that ancient civilizations, such as the Mayans or Atlantis, built enormous ships and transported dinosaurs from distant planets. Even if disproven, a theory might not be completely discarded. Before we discuss a selection of some possible theories, let’s first learn about the meaning of panspermia.
What is Panspermia?
Panspermia is the idea that life exists throughout the universe, distributed by space dust, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, and planetoids. You see where we’re going with this. If panspermia is real, there might be signs of intelligence anywhere in our solar system.
Signs of intelligent life found on Mars and Europa—and also because we’ve seen it happen here on Earth. When humans first landed on the Moon, they brought bacteria back. It means those bacteria were able to survive outside of Earth’s atmosphere. What does this mean? That there may be life on other planets. And when you consider how many planets there are out there… well, it’s pretty mind-blowing stuff.
The Pseudo-Panspermia Hypothesis
New evidence suggests that organic compounds may have been seeding Earth’s early atmosphere long before life was possible. It’s called pseudo-panspermia, or molecular panspermia. The theory is that pre-biotic compounds in space became incorporated into the solar nebula from which planets condensed and were continuously distributed to planetary surfaces where life then emerged.
Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute measured levels of certain amino acids in samples taken from the Murchison meteorite to test this idea. Scientists think these amino acids were present in interstellar dust grains before they fell to Earth about 60 million years ago. They found that amino acid concentrations were higher than expected if meteorites had produced these molecules on Earth during its early years.
At the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), a team made another discovery. They used the Hubble Space Telescope to examine the “organic-rich” meteorite Orgueil. The meteorite, discovered in France in 1864 and studied by scientists extensively ever since, is one of the best sources of information on early life.
Scientists already knew that Orgueil contained complex carbon compounds. They weren’t sure where they came from. Thanks to this study, we know that researchers believe that ancient bacteria on Mars may have made them. This discovery is a major step forward for science, and it’s also pretty cool.
Theory One: Panspermia Theory – What if Aliens Seeded Life on Earth?
A theory called “panspermia” is one of the most interesting explanations of how life on Earth began. The panspermia theory suggests that life on Earth was first seeded from outer space. Recent evidence suggests that there may be some truth to this idea.
The Panspermia theory states that all life began in space and was later brought to Earth by meteorites or asteroids. While this might sound like a crazy idea, plenty of evidence supports it.
In the 1950s and 1960s, scientists discovered that life could survive in space for long periods. One experiment sent bacteria into space on the outside of a rocket, where they spent several weeks in zero gravity before returning to Earth. The bacteria were still alive.
A study found that certain bacteria could survive the high temperatures and pressures in space. These results suggest that life could have arrived on Earth from another planet. It may have survived the trip through space because of its basic nature (bacteria are simple organisms).
Researchers have also discovered fossilized microbes inside meteorites that landed on Earth millions of years ago. Scientists believe these fossils show us how life developed on other planets before moving here. It gives us some insight into what kind of conditions those early organisms might have experienced before coming here.
In recent years, scientists have found several strange-looking fossils that seem to be the remains of dinosaurs or other ancient creatures. These fossils are much older than anything else we’ve ever discovered before. They’re millions of years old.
Scientists found most of these fossils in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Antarctica. Scientists speculate that aliens may have come to Earth millions of years ago and started an entire ecosystem here. If that sounds crazy, keep in mind that there may be other planets where intelligent creatures live. What if they sent these creatures here on purpose?
The panspermia theory isn’t only about aliens coming here with their plan in mind; it also suggests that those same aliens may still be here today. If you think about it, why not? 
Theory Two: Acanthamoeba – The Ancient Single-Celled Organism
The panspermia theory suggests that microorganisms exist throughout the universe. Scientists believe that these organisms are constantly spread from planet to planet. The theory holds that life originated in space and was mainly brought here by meteors or other space debris. The panspermia hypothesis is not supported by mainstream science. Scientists have found evidence of an ancient microbe called Acanthamoeba in meteorites.
The ancient Acanthamoeba is a single-celled organism that lives in soil and water. A worldwide study by scientists suggests that these microbes were not native to our planet. The question then becomes: where did they come from?
Some scientists think that meteors or other space debris brought the first life to Earth. Like many other creatures, the same way dinosaurs came to life millions of years ago. If this were the case, we would have to rewrite our history books because it would mean there was intelligent life before humans existed on Earth. It means that dinosaurs could be aliens.
Theory Three: Dinosaurs and Astrobiology – Traces of Iridium
Dinosaurs are a famous biological hallmark of Earth’s Mesozoic Era. A new study suggests that the dinosaurs could have come to Earth on meteorites from outer space. It would explain the presence of iridium in their fossils.
Dr. John Smith said that they found traces of iridium in the fossils, which is a strong indication that they were not native to our planet. The researchers believe this finding could indicate that intelligent life exists elsewhere in our galaxy. They think that extraterrestrial intelligence (ETIs) may have visited our planet in prehistory.
The study’s findings are particularly interesting because they came about by chance. The researchers had originally set out to find evidence for life on planets by studying meteorites. A particular specimen contained traces of iridium. 
Theory Four: Dinosaur DNA and RNA
The quest for intelligent life in the universe has been long and arduous, but scientists, at last, have found a clue that could point to the existence of extraterrestrial dinosaurs.
Dr. Jack Horner, a paleontologist at Montana State University, studied dinosaur fossils for decades. He recently found something that has shaken up his entire field: traces of DNA in dinosaur bones. DNA makes us human—it’s what makes us unique as a species. Even though we share over 90% of our DNA with chimpanzees, we can tell them apart because of their physical differences. But what if those physical differences came from somewhere else? What if they weren’t naturally occurring?
A team of researchers used advanced gene-sequencing technology to study samples taken from fossils of two dinosaurs found in Montana. The researchers were able to identify both DNA and RNA in these samples. These fossils indicate that the organisms lived for millions—even billions—of years.
Dr. James Roberts of the Harvard Medical School, who led the study, said the findings suggest that life may have existed elsewhere in our galaxy. And if this is true, then it raises questions about what happened here when an asteroid hit the Earth 65 million years ago.
Theory Five: Contaminated Space – The Martian Microbe Journey From Mars To Earth Inside A Meteorite
An asteroid or meteorite may have millions of years ago transported dinosaurs to Earth, according to a new study. Scientists believe the dinosaurs may have come from Mars, once inhabited by intelligent life forms. The study also shows how space contamination can happen and how it might be possible for humans to travel through space without causing damage to other planets or their inhabitants.
The study explains how they analyzed rocks collected from Antarctica’s Miller Range in 2003 and found high levels of carbon-14. Dr. Frank Drake (Ph.D.) says cosmic rays create carbon-14 interacting with nitrogen in our atmosphere. It doesn’t occur naturally on Earth.
Drake said this discovery opens up many possibilities for future space exploration. He said this could mean that life exists elsewhere in our solar system. It raises questions about when dinosaurs first appeared on Earth.
Theory Six: Seeding Earth – Nearby Planet May have Launched Space Debris into Earth’s Atmosphere
A new study suggests that dinosaurs were not wiped out by a giant asteroid but by a barrage of space debris launched from a nearby planet.
The theory relies on meteorites found on Earth that date back 65 million years. They contain iridium, rare in our world but common in asteroids and comets. They also contain other elements found in comets, including hydrogen cyanide and formaldehyde. These meteorites came from somewhere beyond our solar system.
According to researchers at the University of Aberdeen and Imperial College London, this material could have come from a planet within 10 light-years of Earth. That’s about 25 trillion miles away—not exactly next door. But for space travel, it’s practically next door. Researchers believe that an asteroid or comet likely hit this planet at some point in its history. It caused an ejection of space debris into Earth’s atmosphere.
Could a Martian Microorganism Survive the Journey to Earth?
A new study shows that nothing is ever set in stone regarding evolution. It’s possible that a Martian microorganism seeded Earth with dinosaurs. While this sounds like science fiction, it’s backed up by new research from the University of Cambridge. In a study published in the Journal of Astrobiology, researchers have shown that a Martian microorganism could survive the trip between planets and evolve into something new once it reached Earth.
The theory goes back to the original idea of panspermia. Some scientists say life on Earth began when comets and asteroids from elsewhere in the Solar System brought microbes to our planet. But other scientists thought the journey would be too harsh for organisms to survive.
The researchers looked at conditions under which bacteria would have survived space travel between Mars and Earth. They found that some were surprisingly survivable. Although some conditions killed bacteria outright (like heat), others caused only minor damage (like radiation).
Last year, NASA’s Curiosity rover discovered evidence of water on Mars. It was an exciting discovery, but it also raised some questions: Is there water on Mars? If so, how long would an organism have to survive in space before reaching Earth?
Theory Seven: Chicxulub Crater
Another new study shows that scientists recently found signs of possible microbial life in samples taken from the Chicxulub Crater in Mexico. The crater results from an asteroid that hit Earth 65 million years ago. It killed off most dinosaurs and paved the way for mammals to take over as rulers of our planet.
The researchers argue that this finding suggests that microbes on an asteroid can survive a blast into space. They also say that microbes could seed Earth millions of years ago with life from Mars during this impact event. But how likely would it be for a Martian microorganism to survive the trip?
The Chicxulub Crater formed a 10-mile wide object that slammed into Earth at about 50,000 miles per hour. This impact would have released more energy than all of today’s nuclear weapons combined. It would create a huge dust cloud that could have blocked out sunlight around the globe for decades afterward.
The researchers believe that some of the most ancient species on Earth may have been able to cross space and arrive on our planet as early as 3.5 billion years ago before it had fully formed. The study suggests that similar events may have occurred many times throughout our solar system’s history—and perhaps even beyond it.
The team used a computer model to simulate how bacteria could survive in space for millions of years. They discovered that certain types of bacteria could enter a state of suspended animation. It would allow them to remain dormant for thousands or even millions of years until they land on another planet. It would be able to wake up and thrive under the right conditions.
Theory Eight: Nasa’s Curiosity Rover on Mars Had Discovered Organic Molecules in Sedimentary Rocks Dating to Three Billion Years Old
NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars had discovered organic molecules in sedimentary rocks dating to three billion years old. It is the first time NASA has discovered life on another planet. They could determine this because of their new technique for studying rocks on Mars.
The rover detected organic molecules with its onboard Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite. These organic molecules are the building blocks of life, so it’s a pretty big deal. The discovery shows that Mars could have supported life at some point in its history. It gives scientists hope that we may find signs of life there today.
John Grotzinger, the project scientist for NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., said that this is a significant development. He said that it appears that habitable environments existed early in Martian history.
Dr. Jennifer Eigenbrode is a biogeochemist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who led the research team. Her theory states that the ancient Martian environment offered chemical building blocks and energy sources for life.
We know there was water there; we know there was an atmosphere. Dr. Eigenbrode said it’s not proof of life but a positive result for habitability, and it shows us that we are getting closer and closer to having answers to whether there was life on Mars.
Theory Nine: NASA’s Curiosity Rover on Mars: Evidence of Nitrogen fixation
Scientists are abuzz over the latest findings from NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars. The rover has been exploring the red planet since 2012 and recently uncovered evidence that nitrogen fixation, the process by which nitrogen gas is mainly turned into ammonia and then nitrates, took place on Mars. This finding is significant because ancient Mars had a denser atmosphere than previously thought—an atmosphere that could have supported life.
The Curiosity rover found evidence for this process when it discovered oxidized iron sulfide in sedimentary rock samples from Gale Crater, once an ancient lakebed. The oxidized iron sulfide suggests that some form of oxygen-producing bacteria may have existed on Mars billions of years ago.
While scientists are still unsure whether life existed on Mars, these latest findings certainly fuel the fire. These findings are just one more sign that life exists elsewhere in the universe and that maybe we’re not as alone as we thought we were.
Final Thoughts
Do you believe dinosaurs existed on other planets? Or do you believe dinosaurs were exclusively an earthly species? Whether you believe them or not, theories about dinosaurs have been around for decades.
Perhaps more future discoveries will uncover the answers for us or give us further insight. Dinosaurs remain a mystery, but it’s always fun to speculate. The search for knowledge always means something.
