Did it rain Alien life over India in 2001?

Quote:

1) REPORT NUMBER: CESS-PR-114-2001
2) TYPE OF REPORT: Final Report
3) TITLE: Coloured Rain: A Report on the Phenomenon
4) AUTHORS S. Sampath, T.K. Abraham, V. Sasi Kumar, C.N. Mohanan
5) KEY WORDS: coloured rain, red rain, spores, algae, lichen, Trentepohlia
6) ABSTRACT: Coloured rainfall was reported from various parts of the state of Kerala during July, August and September, 2001. A detailed study was carried out on the samples of red rain water obtained from Changanacherry, where the first report originated. The water was found to contain suspended particles, which settled down after several hours. The material that settled down was first separated and chemically analysed to determine its elemental composition. On microscopic examination, the substance was seen to consist of tiny circular particles that resembled spores. The sample was therefore transferred to the microbiology laboratory of the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI). The spores were found to grow well in algal culture medium. The alga was identified as a specie belonging to the genus Trentepohlia.

The region in Changanacherry from where the red rain was reported was found to be densely vegetated with plenty of lichen on trees, rocks and lampposts. Samples of lichen collected from there also were cultured in the microbiology laboratory of TBGRI. The study showed that the lichen collected from the site gave rise to algae similar to the ones cultured from the spores obtained from the rain water samples. The spores in the rainwater, therefore, most probably are of local origin.

Oh. OK. Very well, then. Thank you very much. Next, please.