NASA is holding a press conference detailing analysis of a rock sample discovered one year ago by Perseverance. Current best explanation seems that the rock features are a result of ancient biological activity.
So, life on Mars...
- Thread starter briggart
- Start date
Reynard
aka Ian Eller
I think the most important question regarding an ancient Martian life is whether it has the same DNA as Earth life. if so, that essentially proves panspermia. I imagine who seeded who (or if there was a third party) would be long debated.
But if Martian life was an entirely different lineage, then we can effectively assume that life is common in the universe, at least on rocky planets in the habital zone.
Benjamin Olson
Hero
Well it may be a godawful small affair to the girl with the mousey hair, but I think it's pretty amazing news!
I don’t think this discovery is going to yield DNA. It’s potential evidence of life, not organic material.
“The reason, however, that we cannot claim this is more than a potential biosignature is that there are chemical processes that can cause similar reactions in the absence of biology, and we cannot rule those processes out completely on the basis of rover data alone.”
It’s some non-organic mineral markers, if I understand it correctly.
“This came in the form of two minerals that appear to have formed as a result of chemical reactions between the mud of the Bright Angel formation and organic matter also present in that mud, Hurowitz said. They are: vivianite, an iron phosphate mineral, and greigite, an iron sulfide mineral.”
So while the two minerals might have been formed by organic matter, they might not. But, importantly they themselves are not organic matter.
Last edited:
That would be awesome. Although I feel like Charlie Brown with the football when it comes to these Mars announcements. It's always tantalizing evidence ... but never enough, is it?
Also? When I saw the title, it made me think of David Bowie. And then remember that he was dead. Which makes me sad. Why do you have to make me sad, @briggart ?
Sigh.
It's a God awful small affair
To the girl with the mousey hair,
But her mummy is yelling, "No!"
And her daddy has told her to go,
But her friend is no where to be seen.
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seats with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen,
But the film is sadd'ning bore
For she's lived it ten times or more.
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors
Fighting in the dance hall.
Oh man!
Look at those cavemen go.
It's the freakiest show.
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy.
Oh man!
Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show.
Is there Life On Mars?
Also? When I saw the title, it made me think of David Bowie. And then remember that he was dead. Which makes me sad. Why do you have to make me sad, @briggart ?
Sigh.
It's a God awful small affair
To the girl with the mousey hair,
But her mummy is yelling, "No!"
And her daddy has told her to go,
But her friend is no where to be seen.
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seats with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen,
But the film is sadd'ning bore
For she's lived it ten times or more.
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors
Fighting in the dance hall.
Oh man!
Look at those cavemen go.
It's the freakiest show.
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy.
Oh man!
Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show.
Is there Life On Mars?
Agreed. Too bad that the 2026 NASA budget proposal included plans to cancel the US contribution to the NASA-ESA sample return mission.
As a wise lady said "You are learning what it means to be human. All humans are aware
Aeson
I've gone barmy
Says the bad guy in almost every scifi horror movie.
Similar Threads
