Perchlorate detected in Martian soil
Posted: Wed, Aug 6, 2008, 8:50 AM ET (1250 GMT)
Scientists with NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission said Tuesday that they have detected traces of perchlorate in samples of Martian soil analyzed by the spacecraft, but that the discovery did not necessarily have positive or negative implications to life on the Red Planet. In an unusual teleconference prompted by rumors and reports of a major discovery in the last several days, scientists said they had detected perchlorate with one instrument, MECA, but not with another, TEGA, although scientists added they had detected a strong oxygen signal in one TEGA sample that could be consistent with the presence of perchlorates. Scientists said if perchlorates do exist, it doesn't necessarily prove or rule out the presence of microbial life on Mars; while perchlorates can be toxic to some forms of life, it is a source of energy for others.
Scientists with NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission said Tuesday that they have detected traces of perchlorate in samples of Martian soil analyzed by the spacecraft, but that the discovery did not necessarily have positive or negative implications to life on the Red Planet. In an unusual teleconference prompted by rumors and reports of a major discovery in the last several days, scientists said they had detected perchlorate with one instrument, MECA, but not with another, TEGA, although scientists added they had detected a strong oxygen signal in one TEGA sample that could be consistent with the presence of perchlorates. Scientists said if perchlorates do exist, it doesn't necessarily prove or rule out the presence of microbial life on Mars; while perchlorates can be toxic to some forms of life, it is a source of energy for others.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, February 27
First glimpse of comet 3I/ATLAS from Juice science camera
ESA — 7:19 am ET (1219 GMT) Space Force’s Top Guardians Share Their Stories
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 7:18 am ET (1218 GMT) Orbital Warfare Unit Gets Live Satellite to Practice Maneuvers
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 7:18 am ET (1218 GMT) US Space Force Pauses Flights on Boeing-Lockheed’s Vulcan Rocket
Bloomberg News — 7:18 am ET (1218 GMT) Dr. Gay Jane Perez takes oath as PhilSA Ad Interim Director General
Philippine Space Agency — 7:14 am ET (1214 GMT) |
