Scientists debate the meaning of mineral found on Mars- August 5, 2008 The unanticipated discovery of a mineral in Mars arctic soil doesnt rule out the possibility that the red planet could support life, scientists with the Phoenix lander said today. While cautioning that the discovery of perchlorate, an oxidizing agent found in rocket fuel, still had to be confirmed by more experiments, scientists with the UA-led Phoenix Mars Mission rejected speculation that the minerals presence killed the possibility of life on the planet. These compounds are quite stable and..http://www.marsnews.com/archives/2008/08/05/scientists_debate_the_meaning_of_mineral_found... Toxin in soil may mean no life on Mars- August 5, 2008 NASA's Phoenix lander has discovered a toxic chemical in soil near Mars' north pole, dimming hopes for finding life on the Red Planet, the probe's operators said Monday. The chemical, perchlorate, is an oxidant widely used in solid rocket fuel. Researchers are still puzzling over the results and checking to make sure the perchlorate wasn't carried to Mars from Earth, the University of Arizona-based science team said. "While we have not completed our process on these soil samples, we have very..http://www.marsnews.com/archives/2008/08/05/toxin_in_soil_may_mean_no_life_on_mars.html The Dirt on Mars Phoenix Lander Contamination- August 5, 2008 Could the Mars Phoenix lander have been contaminated by bacteria from Earth The possibility was raised by rumor-multipliers feasting on an Aviation Week report that the White House had been briefed on "major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the 'potential for life' on Mars." The report has since been retracted, but it raised the prospect, if only wildly, that the Phoenix found Martian soil so habitable because transplanted microbes flourished there. But that, say researchers, is...http://www.marsnews.com/archives/2008/08/05/the_dirt_on_mars_phoenix_lander_contamination.... White House Briefed On Potential For Mars Life- August 4, 2008 The White House has been alerted by NASA about plans to make an announcement soon on major new Phoenix lander discoveries concerning the "potential for life" on Mars, scientists tell Aviation Week & Space Technology. Sources say the new data do not indicate the discovery of existing or past life on Mars. Rather the data relate to habitability--the "potential" for Mars to support life--at the Phoenix arctic landing site, sources say. The data are much more complex than results related NASA's...http://www.marsnews.com/archives/2008/08/04/white_house_briefed_on_potential_for_mars_life... |