Do aliens exist?

A sample of bacteria found on the surface of the International Space Station may be proof of so, claims Russian cosmonaut, Anton Shkaplerov.

Along with other cosmonauts, Shkaplerov found the bacteria on cotton swabs during one of their spacewalks while cleaning parts of the station. These swabs were collected years ago, according to Boy Genius Report, but the cosmonauts did not notice the microscopic forms of life on the swabs until they were sent back to Earth recently, where they are currently under study.

If the sample is proven to be from an extraterrestrial source, it may be proof that we may not be alone in the endless galaxy, according to Shkaplerov. “Somehow these swabs reveal bacteria that were absent during the launch of the ISS module,” he explained. “That is, they have come from outer space and settled along the external surface. They are being studied so far and it seems that they pose no danger.”

Still, skepticism remains. This isn’t the first time Russia has claimed to find alien life; earlier, they released reports on the discovery of plankton on the ISS and possible biological material on nearby asteroids and comets.

Additionally, according to CNET, a recent study from the University of Edinburgh proposes that
“high-speed flows of ‘space dust’ could actually launch just such microbes on journeys from Earth to other worlds.” It is possible that over the years the ISS obtained bacteria from Earth’s atmosphere; therefore, the lifeform Shkaplerov and his fellow cosmonauts found has its roots back in Earth, not in the vastness of the galaxy.

NASA has yet to comment on the discovery. Until then, science has something “out of this world” to prepare for, or we’re just in on a giant hoax.