How To Tell Earthlings That Martian Life Is Here

New Scientist ^ | 8-1-2006 | David Shiga

[blam]

How to tell Earthlings that Martian life is here

18:40 01 August 2006
NewScientist.com news service
David Shiga

The Spirit and Opportunity rovers that continue to explore Mars are not designed to search for life. But if a sample return mission is ever sent to Mars, scientists could test for it in the rocks brought back to Earth.

In 1996, news of possible signs of life in a Martian meteorite called ALH84001 leaked out ahead of a press conference that had been scheduled by NASA. This was partly because a high-ranking White House official told a prostitute about the meteorite. NASA had to scramble to reschedule its press conference to an earlier date to satisfy the growing demand for information from the press and the public.

That rescheduling was just an inconvenience, but bigger problems could arise in connection with a Mars sample return mission, say John Rummel, NASA's planetary protection officer in Washington DC, and Margaret Race of the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, both in the US.

The ALH84001 researchers were able to carry out their studies for years before finding themselves in the media spotlight. But the public will know about the Mars sample return mission ahead of time, so there will be intense media scrutiny from the beginning, they say.

Lost in Interpretation

"If you're going to be working in public you have to have some sort of reasonable way of ensuring that the information going to the public is right," Rummel told New Scientist. "You wouldn't want to have each hypothesis announced as if it were a fact."

"There's not much to be gained by rushing to publication, and much to be lost – mainly your credibility and public confidence," he adds.

[AdvisorB]

[The Electrician]

This was partly because a high-ranking White House official told a prostitute about the meteorite.

WTF?

[djf]

I still wanna know what the heck were the mushroom thingies?

[Lil'freeper]

They've already found proof there's no intelligent life on Mars:

His name is Algore

[Question_Assumptions]

It was the Clinton years. That could be a euphemism for the Adulterer in Chief for all we know.

[Continental Soldier]

The really important news here is, who was the "high ranking White House official?" and, who was the "prostitute?" Also, pictures would be appreciated. :)

[Spirochete]

"This was partly because a high-ranking White House official told a prostitute about the meteorite."

WTF?

Remember, this was back during the Clinton years.

[johnny7]

LOL!

[American Quilter]

Where's my "Welcome to Earth!" sign? I've got to rush to the top of a tall building right away!

[ElkGroveDan]

This was partly because a high-ranking White House official told a prostitute about the meteorite.

That story makes my toes tingle every time I hear it.

[My2Cents]

In 1996...a high-ranking White House official told a prostitute about the meteorite

The President?

[ElkGroveDan]

You guys don't remember the story about Dick Morriss getting his toes sucked as he talked on the phone, while Bill Clinton told him about the possible Martian life?

[johnny7]

"Quaid, start the generators."

[guitar4jesus]

Well said!

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Most Earthlings would know that Washington D.C. and California were in the United States.

[mountn man]

and, who was the "prostitute?" Also, pictures would be appreciated. :)

They meant presstitute not prostitute, and she/it was Hellen Thomas.

Are you sure you want pics????

[ASA Vet]

[Lx]

Dick Morris?

[doc30]

This was partly because a high-ranking White House official told a prostitute about the meteorite.

WTF?

Dick Morris?