The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched a balloon

into the upper atmosphere and discovered three strange new species of bacteria far more resistant to UV radiation than previously known strains. According to the ISRO, sufficient precautionary measures were used to make sure that the species were, in fact, picked up by the balloon in the stratosphere and not closer to earth. This PDF, from the International Journal of Astrobiology, states that “very small, bacteria-like particles” have been found as high as 41 kilometers into the atmosphere. The paper concludes with the suggestion that these particles, “too large to have originated from Earth” (since there is no viable way for them to reach such heights) may have originated from space. Imagine a gentle rain of alien invaders…