New Study of Meteorite Provides More Evidence for Ancient Life on Mars

New Study of Meteorite Provides More Evidence for Ancient Life on Mars

www.physorg.com

(PhysOrg.com) -- In 1996, when scientists examined a meteorite from Mars previously uncovered in Antarctica, they were intrigued by what looked like microscopic fossils of ancient Martian life forms. Now, using new technology that wasn't available 13 years ago, NASA scientists have found further evidence that the materials and structures in the meteorite are likely signs of ancient life, rather than the results of inorganic processes.

(visit the link for the full news article)

I remember when this story first broke years ago, and the skepticism it engendered. Now 13 years later, NASA has used new technologies to add further evidence to the hypothesis that Mars once hosted life of the microscopic variety at the very least. This study would seem to invalidate the leading non-biological hypothesis for the nanocrystal magnetite particles that were first hypothesized to be bacterial fossils. While competing theories had hypothesized that those crystals could be the result of thermal decomposition caused by impacts with other meteorites this new study argues that few if any of the nanocrystals are the result of thermal decomposition. Bottom line, is it now far more likely that these nanofossils are the result of microscopic life on Mars. And if life formed on Mars then the chances of life forming on other planets is increased as well.

www.physorg.com
(visit the link for the full news article)