Advances in Astrophysics

5

Authors: N. C. Wickramasinghe, M. J. Rycroft, D.T. Wickramasinghe, E, J. Steele, Daryl. H. Wallis, Robert Temple, G. Tokoro, A.V. Syroeshkin, T.V. Grebennikova, O.S. Tsygankov

The discovery by Russian researchers (Grebennikova et al., 2018) of microorganisms on the exterior surface of the International Space Station (ISS) on several occasions between 2013 and 2017 may be interpreted as evidence supporting the Hoyle-Wickramasinghe theory of cometary panspermia. The homologies between the ISS-recovered genotypes and known terrestrial bacteria can be seen as evidence of co-evolution and gene transfers (HGT) within a biosphere that spans astronomical distances. On the one hand, the height of the ISS orbit at 400km can be argued as being too high for lofting surface microorganisms. However, there is a theory that purports to explain the possible transport of small particles from the troposphere into the lower stratosphere and ionosphere as a result of vortex motions as well as vertical flows (streamers), which are generated as a result of the development of the modulational instability in the ionospheric plasma. More research is needed to properly evaluate this proposal.

9

Authors: N. Ahmed, N. A. Chowdhury, A. Mannan, A. A. Mamun

The existence and the basic features of ion-acoustic (IA) envelope solitons in a selfgravitating degenerate quantum plasma system (SG-DQPS), containing inertial non-relativistically degenerate light and heavy ion species as well as inertialess non-relativistically degenerate positron and electron species, have been theoretically investigated by deriving the nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation. The NLS equation, which governs the dynamics of the IA waves, has disclosed the modulationally stable and unstable regions for the IA waves. The unstable region allows to generate bright envelope solitons which are modulationaly stable. It is found that the stability and the growth rate are dependent on the plasma parameters (like, mass and number density of the plasma species). The implications of our results in astronomical compact object (viz. white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, etc.) are briefly discussed.

13

Authors: G.Y. Smolkov

Natural changes in solar-terrestrial relations, including the global climate of the Earth, without taking into account all the factors of external influence on them, are still completely incomprehensible. In this connection, synchronous responses of the atmosphere layers of the Sun and all shells of the Earth, due to external influences on them in 1997-1998 were considered. The events and processes of these years have caused a temporary slowdown in global warming in 1998-2013.