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 to launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in September
Posted: Sat, Apr 25 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, April 28
DOD budget proposes new $250 million space operations center on Schriever
Colorado Springs Gazette — 4:58 am ET (0858 GMT) US Picks Companies for Golden Dome Weapon That Might Not Be Affordable
Business Insider — 4:58 am ET (0858 GMT) S. Korea nears completion of five-satellite network to monitor North Korea
Korea Herald — 4:57 am ET (0857 GMT) Atlas V rocket successfully launches Amazon satellites from Cape Canaveral
WESH-TV Orlando — 4:55 am ET (0855 GMT) SpaceX Details Bumps To Starship V3 First Flight
Aviation Week — 4:54 am ET (0854 GMT) |
