A groundbreaking theory suggests NASA’s Viking 1 mission may have inadvertently destroyed any Martian life it encountered due to its water-based testing methods. Astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch proposes that the water used in the experiments could have killed salt-dependent microbes, potentially explaining the mission’s negative results. This raises crucial questions about future Mars exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.
A leading astrobiologist claims NASA’s Viking 1 mission’s water-based life detection methods may have inadvertently destroyed any Martian life they encountered. He proposes a revolutionary ‘follow the salts’ strategy, inspired by research in the Atacama Desert, to better search for life on Mars.
On November 9th, 2024, we celebrate the 90th birthday of Carl Sagan, a renowned scientist, communicator, and advocate whose profound impact on science and society continues to resonate today. This article explores Sagan’s remarkable scientific achievements, his passionate advocacy for critical thinking and truth-seeking, and the enduring legacy he has left behind for generations to come.
A striking ‘smiley face’ spotted on Mars by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is actually a remnant of an ancient lakebed, potentially harboring evidence of past life on the Red Planet. This discovery, part of a study cataloging chloride salt deposits on Mars, highlights these deposits as prime targets for astrobiological exploration due to their potential to preserve signs of past microbial life.
NASA’s Perseverance rover is set to embark on a challenging climb to the rim of Jezero Crater on Mars. This ascent, expected to take months, will expose the rover to steep slopes and difficult terrain, but it promises to reveal ancient rocks crucial for understanding Martian history and the possibility of past life.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered a rock on Mars with intriguing features that could potentially indicate the presence of ancient microbial life. The rock, collected from an area called Cheyava Falls, exhibits chemical signatures and physical structures that resemble those created by life on Earth. However, scientists emphasize that further analysis is needed to confirm if the markings are indeed biological in origin.
The vastness of space makes it unlikely that we are alone in the universe. Scientists are actively searching for signs of life beyond Earth, from our solar system to the most distant galaxies. This article explores 32 unique places where scientists have looked or hope to look for extraterrestrial life, including Neptune’s moon Triton, Mars, the exoplanet Kepler-186f, and even parallel universes.
NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered rocks on Mars rich in manganese oxide, a chemical that may indicate the presence of oxygen and life-friendly conditions on the planet billions of years ago. The discovery adds to growing evidence that Mars may have been more Earth-like than previously thought, with abundant liquid water and possibly even microbial life.
Initial observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) hinted at the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in the atmosphere of a distant Earth-like planet, K2-18b. However, a new study suggests that the signal could be from methane clouds, casting doubt on the earlier claims of potential life detection. The study models the behavior of DMS in hydrogen-rich atmospheres and finds itunlikely that JWST could distinguish between DMS and methane in the specific wavelengths it examined. However, the team remains hopeful, as JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) may be more capable of detecting DMS and clarifying the planet’s composition.
