Meteorite raises hopes for Mars life
Posted: Fri, Feb 10, 2006, 5:46 AM ET (1046 GMT)
Analysis of a Martian meteorite has provided that some scientists have interpreted as new evidence for past life on Mars. Researchers studying the interior of the Nakhla meteorite, a Martian meteorite that fell to Earth in Egypt in 1911, said they have found carbonaceous material filling microscopic cracks within the meteorite. Scientists believe the material is not terrestrial contamination since it came from a sample of the meteorite just broken open for this analysis. One possibility is that microbial life left the carbon in much the same way microbes on Earth leave carbon in cracks in volcanic glasses, but so far there is no additional evidence to support that hypothesis. Scientists plan to present the results of their research at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston next month.
Analysis of a Martian meteorite has provided that some scientists have interpreted as new evidence for past life on Mars. Researchers studying the interior of the Nakhla meteorite, a Martian meteorite that fell to Earth in Egypt in 1911, said they have found carbonaceous material filling microscopic cracks within the meteorite. Scientists believe the material is not terrestrial contamination since it came from a sample of the meteorite just broken open for this analysis. One possibility is that microbial life left the carbon in much the same way microbes on Earth leave carbon in cracks in volcanic glasses, but so far there is no additional evidence to support that hypothesis. Scientists plan to present the results of their research at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston next month.
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