APOD: Early Microscopic Life On Mars? (1996 Aug 07)
- orin stepanek
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APOD: Early Microscopic Life On Mars? (1996 Aug 07)
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960807.html
Explanation: Today a team of NASA and Stanford scientists announced the discovery of strong circumstantial evidence that microscopic life once existed on Mars. Dr. David McKay, Dr. Everett Gibson, and Kathie Thomas-Keprta of Lockheed-Martin, all from (NASA /JSC), and Dr. Richard Zare (Stanford) have led a team that has found chemical evidence for past life on Mars - including what they interpret as possible microscopic fossil remains (tube-like structures pictured above) - in a meteorite thought to have originated on Mars. A small fraction of the many meteorites that fall to Earth from space have composition similar to the Martian surface. Many scientists believe that these meteorites are indeed Martian rocks that have been catapulted into space during a catastrophic event on Mars, such as an asteroid impact. The escaped rocks would then circle the inner Solar System, some of them falling to Earth. The meteorite containing the evidence landed on Earth 13,000 years ago, but may indicate a life-form that existed on Mars billions of years ago. The team's findings will be published in the August 16 issue of Science Magazine. Even skeptical scientists look forward to future research confirming or refuting these exciting claims.
Does anybody recall whether these tube-like structures are indeed were microscopic fossil remains.
Explanation: Today a team of NASA and Stanford scientists announced the discovery of strong circumstantial evidence that microscopic life once existed on Mars. Dr. David McKay, Dr. Everett Gibson, and Kathie Thomas-Keprta of Lockheed-Martin, all from (NASA /JSC), and Dr. Richard Zare (Stanford) have led a team that has found chemical evidence for past life on Mars - including what they interpret as possible microscopic fossil remains (tube-like structures pictured above) - in a meteorite thought to have originated on Mars. A small fraction of the many meteorites that fall to Earth from space have composition similar to the Martian surface. Many scientists believe that these meteorites are indeed Martian rocks that have been catapulted into space during a catastrophic event on Mars, such as an asteroid impact. The escaped rocks would then circle the inner Solar System, some of them falling to Earth. The meteorite containing the evidence landed on Earth 13,000 years ago, but may indicate a life-form that existed on Mars billions of years ago. The team's findings will be published in the August 16 issue of Science Magazine. Even skeptical scientists look forward to future research confirming or refuting these exciting claims.
Does anybody recall whether these tube-like structures are indeed were microscopic fossil remains.
Orin
Smile today; tomorrow's another day!
Smile today; tomorrow's another day!
Re: Early Microscopic Life On Mars? (Aug 7 1996)
I believe that they were shown to be inorganic in origin. As I recall, they were some sort of naturally occuring crystaline structure or, perhaps, carbon nanotubes.
Re: Early Microscopic Life On Mars? (Aug 7 1996)
Mars Meteorite Compendium 2003: ALH84001
NASA ALH84001 Meteorite Summary - 2005 Oct 28
New Study Adds to Finding of Ancient Life Signs in Mars Meteorite - NASA JSC News Release J09-030 - 2009 Nov 30
NASA ALH84001 Meteorite Summary - 2005 Oct 28
New Study Adds to Finding of Ancient Life Signs in Mars Meteorite - NASA JSC News Release J09-030 - 2009 Nov 30
- neufer
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Re: Early Microscopic Life On Mars? (Aug 7 1996)
Art Neuendorffer
- orin stepanek
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Re: Early Microscopic Life On Mars? (Aug 7 1996)
After reading bystander's post; I gather that the findings lead toward the positive, though not absolute proof.
Orin
Smile today; tomorrow's another day!
Smile today; tomorrow's another day!
- neufer
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Re: APOD: Early Microscopic Life On Mars? (1996 Aug 07)
I didn't know they had a travelling museum.
To find the Truth, you must go Beyond.