Home Page of Dr. Godfrey Louis

Dr. Godfrey Louis

Department of Physics

Cochin University of Science and Technology

Kochi, Kerala, INDIA

(Formerly at  School of Pure & Applied Physics,  Mahatma Gandhi University

Kottayam, Kerala, INDIA)

Welcome to my Home page

Contact information:

Postal address: 
Dr. Godfrey Louis
Professor and Head,
Department of Physics,
Cochin University of  Science and Technology,
Kochi - 682 022, Kerala, India.
E-mail:  godfreylouis@vsnl.com
              godfrey@cusat.ac.in

Cell Phone: +91 9847124092
Office Phones:  +91 484  3922440, +91 484 3922444, +91 484 2577404
Residence Phones:  +91 484 2806344,  +91 484  4067344

Please note the change in office address.
On 6th October 2006 I have joined as Professor in the Department of Physics of Cochin University of Science and Technology  
(old address: Dr.  Godfrey Louis,  Reader,  School of Pure & Applied Physics,  Mahatma Gandhi University,  Priyadarsini Hills P. O.,
 Kottayam - 686 560,  Kerala, INDIA.)

 RED RAIN OF KERALA

A red rain phenomenon occurred in Kerala, the place where I live, during July-September 2001. The characteristics of this phenomenon were very strange. Conventional explanations appeared totally inadequate to account for this phenomenon. I started an investigation with limited resources and I was greatly assisted by my research student A. Santhosh Kumar. We have been studying this red rain since 2001. Some of our research results are now published in the journal -Astrophysics and Space Science, an international peer reviewed journal of astronomy, astrophysics and space science.

According to these published results, the red particles, which caused the red rain of Kerala, are possibly of extraterrestrial origin. This conclusion is arrived by analysing the various aspects associated with this phenomenon, like the geographical and time distribution pattern of this phenomenon and the nature of the red particles. It appears that the phenomenon can be explained much easily if it is assumed that the origin of the red particles is from cometary fragments, which underwent atmospheric disintegration above Kerala. There are also some additional correlating evidences that prompt this line of thinking, like the sonic boom from the meteor airburst, which preceded the first red rain case. Having made a logical possibility like this it follows that the cometary body in question should contain huge quantity of these red particles, which amounts to an estimated quantity of more than 50,000 kg.

What makes this finding most important is the biological cell like nature of these red particles. Under optical microscope they appear like biological cells and the Transmission Electron Microscopy further shows a clear cell structure. Their organic nature is indicated by the major presence of carbon and oxygen. But despite these biological indications the cells do not show the presence of DNA. The genetic molecule DNA is present in all living organisms found on Earth. So the absence of DNA argues against the biological nature of these red rain cells.

But I wish to consider the possibility of alternate biomolecules in these cells whose origin is now suspected as extraterrestrial. This way the cells may represent an alternate form of life from space. If these are such biological cells then their production in huge quantity inside cometary bodies can be explained by the theory of cometary panspermia.

If the above ideas are wrong then I wish to know a better explanation for the strange nature of the red rain phenomenon and also for the strange nature of the red cells. If these cells have a terrestrial origin then it follows that they exist in huge quantities in some part of Earth and it is sure to have been noticed by some microbiologists. But there appears no such identification so far.

We expect to publish the next set of results in a journal soon and we will also be conducting several collaborative studies to reveal the mystery of these cells.

red rain cells
"The red rain phenomenon of Kerala and its possible extraterrestrial origin" Godfrey Louis & A. Santhosh Kumar, Astrophysics and Space Science, Vol. 302, pages 175-187, 2006 (published online first on the date 04 April 2006) 
Link to Online: (full text restricted to subscribers of the journal) http://springerlink.metapress.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&issn=0004-640X&volume=302&issue=1&spage=175

Preprint (full text) of the above paper (Released in 02 Jan 2006) is available for viewing from any of the following links or other mirror sites of   ArXiv.org:

Primary US link: http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601022 
Indian mirror:      http://in.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601022
UK mirror:           http://uk.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0601022

Articles and stories  about the above paper: (New are added to the end of this list)

  1.  Skepticism greets claim of possible alien microbes - World Science,  5 January 2006. http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/060104_specksfrm1.htm
  2. A dust storm couldn't have caused the red rain of Kerala - by Brig Klyce , Whats New in Cosmic Ancestry,  6 January 2006,  http://www.panspermia.org/whatsne40.htm#060106
  3.  Red rain may have ‘extraterrestrial origin’ By Jenifer Johnston - Sunday Herald (UK),   15 January 2006,  http://www.sundayherald.com/53577
  4. When  aliens rained over India - by Hazel Muir, New Scientist magazine, issue 2541, 04 March 2006,  page 34 (Cover Story) http://www.newscientist.com/contents/issue/2541.html     http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/mg18925411.100.html
  5. It's raining aliens - New Scientist Podcast,  04 March 2006 ( mp3 format audio file size 10.3 MB) http://www.newscientist.com/data/av/podcast/newsci-20060303-raining-aliens.mp3
  6. Red rain could prove that aliens have landed - By Amelia Gentleman and Robin McKie, The Observer (UK), 05 March 2006 http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1723913,00.html
  7. Is it raining aliens?.... by Michael Hanlon, E-Notes.com, 06 March 2006  http://science.enotes.com/science-news/raining-aliens-red-blood-falling-from-sky-baffled
  8. Is mysterious 'red rain' first evidence of life in space?  By Chris Benfield, Yorkshire Post (UK), 06 March 2006 http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1375334 
  9. Red rain from another planet? - by George Iype, Rediff  news, 08 March 2006  http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/08gspec.htm
  10. Life hain professor! - Prerna Shah, Times of India, 10 March 2006  http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1445747.cms
  11. Alien attack after red rain in Kerala  - Naveen Nair, CNN-IBN, 18 March 2006  http://www.ibnlive.com/article.php?id=6952&section_id=11#

  12. Red rain puzzle is still up in the air -by  Hazel Muir , New Scientist Magazine issue 2545, 01 April 2006  http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19025453.100.html

  13. UK Team offer new insight into red rain mystery - British Satellite News, 27 April 2006  http://www.bsn.org.uk/view_all.php?id=11615

  14.  ANALYSIS OF RED RAIN OF KERALA - Cardiff Centre for Astrobiology , 30 March 2006  http://www.astrobiology.cf.ac.uk/redrain.html

  15. Red rain of Kerala - David Darling, Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy & Spaceflight, http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/R/red_rain_of_Kerala.html
  16. Is It Raining Aliens? - Jebediah Reed, Popular Science, June 2006, http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/2c21c0f98d07b010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
  17. Mysterious red cells might be aliens - Jebediah Reed , CNN.com,  June 2, 2006  http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/06/02/red.rain/

  18. Red rain in Kerala - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_rain_in_Kerala

  19. Physicist: Cell-like structures could be microbes from space - WorldNetDaily.com, June 4, 2006 http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50498
  20. Something  weird fell in the red rain - Ed  Willett , Leader-Post, June 08, 2006 http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/arts_life/story.html?id=c1627bd9-334a-428a-8d5f-a7c532c44ec2
  21. "Extraterrestrial Life" in Red Rain of Kerala, India? -Linda Moulton Howe,  Earthfiles.com, June 15, 2006 http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1103&category=Science
  22. When aliens visit - David Tenenbaum, The Why Files, 22 June 2006, http://whyfiles.org/shorties/207red_rain/
  23. Germs from space? - Michael Carroll , Astronomy Magazine , 21 June 2006, http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4337
  24. Alien Lifefall in Red Rain on India? - Douglas Chapman, Strangemag.com, http://www.strangemag.com/redrainfolder/alienlifefall.html
  25. Red Rain Cells of Kerala, India - Still No Definite DNA - Linda Moulton Howe,  Earthfiles.com, August 19, 2006 http://www.earthfiles.com/news/news.cfm?ID=1129&category=Science
  26. Ripple Marks:  Red Rain - Cheryl Lyn Dybas , Oceanography  Vol. 19 , No.3, Page 11, Sept 2006 http://www.tos.org/oceanography/issues/issue_archive/issue_pdfs/19_3/19.3_ripple_marks.pdf
  27. Prof. Chandra Wickramasinghe - the man who asserted: "Life did not start here on earth but in space,"  - by Walter Jayawardhana , Asian Tribune,   October 26,  2006. http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/2788
  28. David Darling's News letter #37 http://www.daviddarling.info/discussion/newsletters_past_37.html
  29. David Darling's News letter #39 http://www.daviddarling.info/discussion/newsletters_past_39.html
  30.  Claim of alien cells in rain may fit historical accounts: study – World Science Net , Jan 22, 2008 http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/080122_red-rain.htm
    Link to the  abstract of original paper of P. McCafferty in International Journal of Astrobiology: http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?aid=1661980
  31. “It’s Raining Aliens!” Coloured Rain in Kerala and the Fuzzy Frontiers of Science - Shiju Sam Varughese -Sarai Reader 07: Frontiers  pages 348-358  http://www.sarai.net/publications/readers/sarai-reader-07-frontiers/348-358_shiju.pdf

Previous papers on red rain:

  1. Cometary panspermia explains the red rain of Kerala  - Godfrey Louis & A. Santhosh Kumar, October 2003,  http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0310120
  2. New biology of red rain extremophiles prove cometary panspermia  - Godfrey Louis & A. Santhosh Kumar, December 2003,  http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0312639

Conference presentation:

  1. Work on red rain was also presented in the 3 day workshop on `Astrobiological problems for physicists'  at NORDITA, (Copenhagen, Denmark) 8-10 January 2004. http://www.nordita.dk/conference/AstroBio2004/
  2.  Invited Lecture on "Microbial red rain of Kerala"   presented by Godfrey Louis at the conference on " Cosmic Dust and Panspermia"  held at Cardiff University, Cardiff U.K. 5-8 September 2006.  http://www.astrobiology.cf.ac.uk/conference.html
  3.  Invited speaker on topic " Red rain phenomenon of Kerala" in the 2006 world mystery forum Conference,  November 11 to 12 , 2006 at  " Mystery Park" Interlaken, Switzerland. http://www.worldmysteriesforum.ch/index.php?id=6&L=1
Red rain cells
red rain cells 100x objective digital image capture

About me

Education:

M. Sc. Physics (Specialization in Space Physics), Department of Physics, University of Kerala, 1981.

Ph. D. in the area of Experimental Solid State Physics (Ultrasonic Study of elastic properties and Phase transition studies in crystals), Cochin University of Science and Technology, 1995.

Other Positions:

Current research activities:

Current research activities are in the area of experimental Solid State Physics, Electronic Instrumentation and computer based Instrumentation. Work involves the growth of  large single crystals and investigation of its elastic, thermal and electrical properties using mainly ultrasonic and electrical conductivity techniques. - Phase transition study in crystals. -Design and development of electronic instrumentation for crystal growth and other experiments in physics. - Development of computer based instrumentation for measurement automation.

Special Research:  

Solving the mystery of the Red Rain phenomenon of Kerala

Special Interest:  

Electronics, Astronomy, Astrobiology and Extraterrestrial life.

Employment History:

  1.  Department of Physics, Union Christian College, Alwaye - 683 102, Kerala,  during 1981 to 1985
  2.  Department of Physics, St. Paul's College, Kalamassery - 683 503, Kerala., during  1985 to 1987
  3.  School of Pure and Applied Physics, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, from 1987 to 2006 (October 5th)
  4.  Department of  Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala  from  2006 (October 6th) onwards.
Membership in Professional Bodies:

Research Students:

  1. Dr. A. Santhosh Kumar  (awarded Ph. D)
  2. Dr. George Varughese ( awarded Ph. D)
  3. Dr. Leesal Iype (awarded Ph.. D)
  4. Dr. Georgekutty Joseph (awarded Ph. D) 
  5. Mr. R. Rajesh
  6. Mr. Jobin Micheal

Publications:

  1. L. Godfrey and K. Viswanathan, Low-cost precision high temperature controller, Indian J. Pure Appl. Phys., Vol. 22, pp. 505-7 (1984).
  2. L.Godfrey and Jacob Philip, A temperature controller for crystal growth experiments of long duration, J. Phys. E: Sci.Instrum. (UK), vol. 22, pp. 516-18 (1989).
  3. Johney Isaac, L. Godfrey and Jacob Philip, A low cost high precision proportional integral derivative temperature controller, Indian J. Pure Appl. Phys., vol. 29, pp. 195-197 (1991).
  4. L. Godfrey, J. Philip and M.T. Sebastian, Elastic constants and high temperature elastic anomalies near 425 K in Lithium Hydrazinium Sulfate, J. Appl. Phys. (USA) , vol. 75, pp. 2393-2397 (1994).
  5. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, Numerical technique for bond correction in ultrasonic measurements, Acoust. Lett. (UK) Vol. 19, pp. 11-14, (1995).
  6. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, Ultrasonic measurement of the Elastic constants of LiKSO4 between 300 and 370 K, Solid State Commun. (UK), vol. 97, pp. 635-638, (1996).
  7. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, Phase Transitions in Lithium Ammonium Sulfate below room temperature: An Ultrasonic Study, Phys. Rev. B (USA) Vol. 54, pp. 15708-713, (1996).
  8. George Varughese, A. Santhosh Kumar, Leesal Iype, A. V. Alex, Jacob Philip and L. Godfrey. Elastic properties of NLO sulphamic acid crystals. Proceedings of DAE-BRNS National Laser Symposium Nov 14-16, 2002, pp 493-494, Allied Publishers (2002).
  9. George Varughese, Lini Jose, Priya S. Nair, Anu Geeth and L. Godfrey, Thermal Studies of Phase Transition in NLO Sulphamic acid Crystal. Proceedings of DAE-BRNS National Laser Symposium December 22-24, 2003, pp 325-326, Allied Publishers (2003).
  10.  R. Rajesh, A. Santhosh Kumar, Leesal Iype, Georgekutty Joseph and  Godfrey Louis, Growth and DC Conductivity studies in MnSeO4.2H2O single Crystal, Indian Journal of Physics, Vol. 79, pp 691-693 (2005). 
  11. Georgekutty Joseph, A. Santhosh Kumar, Leesal Iype and  Godfrey Louis, AC conductivity and dielectric studies of K3Na(SeO4)2 single crystals in the high temperature region , Indian Journal of Physics, Vol. 79, pp 699-702 (2005).
  12. George Varughese, A. S. Kumar, A. V. Alex, J. Philip and L. Godfrey, Elastic properties of Potassium Lithium Hydrogen Sulphate crystal: An Ultrasonic Study, Ferroelectrics,  Vol. 323, pp. 133-137, (2005)
  13. Rajesh R, A Santhosh Kumar, Georgekutty Joseph and Godfrey Louis, Dielectric and Conductivity Studies of NiSeO4. 6H2O single crystal below room temperature , Proceedings of the DAE Solid State Physics  Symposium (2005), Vol.50, pp. 745-746. (2005).
  14. Godfrey Louis and A. Santhosh Kumar, The red rain phenomenon of Kerala and its possible extraterrestrial origin,  – Astrophysics and Space Science Vol. 302, pp. 175-187 (2006).

Papers presented in conference, symposium etc.:

  1. L. Godfrey, Simple automation circuit for crystal growth by Bridgman method, XIX National Seminar on Crystallography. M.G. University, Kottayam (December 1987)
  2. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, Elastic nonlinearity parameters of tetragonal crystals, XIX National Seminar on Crystallography. M.G. University, Kottayam (December 1987)
  3. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, A temperature controller for long duration constant temperature experiments, Symposium on current trends in Pure & Applied Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology (November 1988)
  4. L.Godfrey, V. Anil Kumar and Jacob Philip, A simple differential thermal analysis set-up for phase transition study, XXI National Seminar on Crystallography - Dec. 27-29 (1989) BARC, Bombay
  5. L.Godfrey and Jacob Philip, Temperature variation of the elastic constants of LiHzS, Solid State Physics Symposium Dec. 21-24, (1991) B.H.U, Varanasi.
  6. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, Elastic constants and Phase Transitions in Lithium Ammonium Sulphate, Solid State Physics Symposium, Dec. 27-31 (1993) BARC, Bombay,
  7. L. Godfrey, Thesis presentation on - Ultrasonic study of the elastic constants and phase transitions in selected mixed sulphates, Solid State Physics Symposium, (DAE) Dec. 27-31 (1994) Jaipur.
  8. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, Elastic constants of LiKSO4 and absence of elastic anomaly at 333 K, Solid State Physics Symposium, (DAE) Dec. 27-31 (1994) Jaipur.
  9. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, Ultrasonic attenuation anomaly in Lithium Hydrazinium Sulphate near 425 K, Solid State Physics Symposium, (DAE) December 27-31 (1995) Calcutta.
  10. L. Godfrey and J. Philip, A Numerical Method For misorientation correction in Elastic constant measurements, National Symposium on Instrumentation, Sept. 25 - 28 (1996) Osmania University, Hyderabad, Organised by: Instrument Society of India.
  11. A. Santhosh Kumar and L. Godfrey, Thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity measurement of crystals using step heating method - A computer simulation study, XXVII National Seminar on Crystallography, September 24 26, (1997) Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  12. A. Santosh Kumar, Thressiamma Thomas and L. Godfrey, Electrical conductivity studies of Lithium Hydrazinium Sulphate single crystal, National seminar on Current Trends in Materials Science, 23, 24 March (2001) Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  13. Leesal Iype, C. M. Paul and L. Godfrey, Growth and studies of Hydrogen Selenates of Divalent metals - M(HSeO4)2 (M = Mg, Zn), National seminar on Current Trends in Materials Science, 23, 24 March (2001) Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  14. Geetha C. S. and L. Godfrey, Effect of growth of KTiO2PO4 crystal in different fluxes and different growth conditions, National seminar on Current Trends in Materials Science, 23, 24 March (2001) Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  15. Georgekutty Joseph and L. Godfrey, Digatally programmable Temperature controller for crystal growth, National seminar on Current Trends in Materials Science, 23, 24 March (2001) Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  16. George Varughese and L. Godfrey, Growth and microhardness study of Lithium sodium sulphate, National seminar on Current Trends in Materials Science, 23, 24 March (2001) Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam.
  17. A. Santosh Kumar and L. Godfrey, Growth and electrical transport properties of Lithium Hydrazinium sulphate single crystal, XXXI National Seminar on Crystallography, 19-22 June ( 2001) Solid State Physics Division, BARC, Bombay.
  18. George Varughese and L. Godfrey, Elastic properties of Li2NaK(SO)4 single crystal, XXXI National Seminar on Crystallography, 19-22 June ( 2001) Solid State Physics Division, BARC, Bombay.
  19. Leesal Iype, C. M. Paul and L. Godfrey, Growth and optical absorption of hydrogen selenate of divalent metal Mg(HSeO4)2, XXXI National Seminar on Crystallography, 19-22 June ( 2001) Solid State Physics Division, BARC, Bombay.
  20. George Varughese, A. Santhosh Kumar, Leesel Iype, A.V. Alex, Jacob Philip and L. Godfrey, Elastic properties of NLO Sulfamic acid crystal, DAE-BRNS National Laser Symposium 2002, Thiruvananthapuram, Nov.2002
  21. Santhosh Kumar A and L.Godfrey, Growth and electrical conductivity studies of sulfamic acid single crystal, XII National Seminar on Ferroelectrics and Dielectrics, December 16-18, 2002, Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
  22. George Varughese, A. V. Alex, Jacob Philip and L. Godfrey, Elastic Properties of Potassium Sulfamate Single crystal - an Ultrasonic Study, XII National Seminar on Ferroelectrics and Dielectrics, December 16-18, 2002, Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
  23. Leesal Iype and L. Godfrey, Growth and Electrical conductivity Studies on Magnesium Selenate Hydrate (Mg SeO4. 6H2O) Single Crystal. XII National Seminar on Ferroelectrics and Dielectrics, December 16-18, 2002, Materials Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
  24. A. Santhosh Kumar, and L. Godfrey Growth and Dielectric studies on Sulfamic Acid single crystal 4th ASIAN MEETING ON FERROELECTRICS(AMF-4) during 12-15 December 2003 at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
  25. George Varughese, A. Santhosh Kumar, Leesal Iype, A. V. Alex, Jacob Philip and L Godfrey Elastic properties of Potassium Lithium Hydrogen Sulphate crystal: An Ultrasonic Study 4th ASIAN MEETING ON FERROELECTRICS(AMF-4) during 12-15 December 2003 at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
  26. Leesal Iype, C M Paul and L Godfrey Growth and Dielectric studies of Magnesium selenate Hydrate single crystal 4th ASIAN MEETING ON FERROELECTRICS(AMF-4) during 12-15 December 2003 at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
  27. (list to be updated further)

Page designed & maintained by  Dr. Godfrey Louis

Page created on 15th February 2002, Last update: 10th April  2008