Those Martian bugs are tough, they come back to life every few years when “discovered” again. It’s a cycle, “discover, debunk, discover, debunk”. It’s the Discover cycle. again.
Heeee Heeeeee! Your post is so right on!
“”Those Martian bugs are tough, they come back to life every few years when “discovered” again. It’s a cycle, “discover, debunk, discover, debunk”. It’s the Discover cycle. again.””
Reading the news release often helps.
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New evidence has made it more likely that remnants of Martian microbes were transported to Earth in a meteorite, it was revealed today.
The discovery strengthens the case for believing that worm-like structures in the meteorite are ‘microfossils’ of ancient Martian bugs.
Sceptics have pointed out that similar-shaped structures could be formed from non-biological processes.
Another unanswered question is whether the microfossils were the result of contamination by Earthly bacteria. This was originally ruled out by Nasa but has raised doubts in the minds of other experts.
However, the excitement did not last long. Other scientists questioned whether the meteorite samples were contaminated. They also argued that heat generated when the rock was blasted into space may have created mineral structures that could be mistaken for microfossils.
The new study was conducted using advanced high resolution electron microscope techniques which were not available 13 years ago.
News of the findings, expected to be released soon by Nasa, was leaked to the space news website Spaceflight Now and picked up today by the Sun newspaper.
It focused on a more detailed analysis of magnetite crystals - tiny magnetic particles - and carbonate discs within the rock.
Certain bacteria on Earth are known to contain magnetite crystals, which they are believed to use as tiny compasses to help them navigate.
The crystals form unusual shapes when associated with bacteria which can be seen in ALH 84001, it is claimed.
In addition the scientists say the chemical purity of the features they studied points to biology rather than geology, and a possible interaction with water.
At first, I thought there might have been an error. I have no doubt about that now. I know there is no error.
‘The big question is can these things be reliable magneto fossils, and that is a matter of debate. But it turns out that the magnetic bacteria make some very unique shapes of magnetite crystals. And one of the organisms we work with on Earth makes particles that look virtually identical to what we see from Mars in the meteorite.’
Spaceflight Now said the data provided “a powerful new case” for believing the meteorite carried traces of extraterrestrial life, according to its sources.
The report added: ‘Although not a smoking gun, the new findings considerably strengthen the Mars life arguments that have been hotly and passionately debated for a decade, given that the discovery of life on Mars is the Holy Grail of science.’