"Our conclusion is that the hitherto mysterious oxidant in the Martian soil, which evolves oxygen when humidified, might be H2O2 of biological origin. This interpretation has consequences for site selection for future missions to search for life on Mars."
Joop M. Houtkooper and Dirk Schulze-Makuch
A possible biogenic origin for hydrogen peroxide on Mars: the Viking results reinterpreted
International Journal of Astrobiology (2007), 6: 147-152 Cambridge University Press
doi:10.1017/S1473550407003746
Published online by Cambridge University Press 22May2007
Oh what a stir the possibility that there might have been some form of life on Mars in the Viking samples has caused in the Online community. If you are a space freak like me, then you have no doubt already seen several sides of this from the actual article in the International Journal of Astrobiology, to those calling not merely the suggestion, but the man that suggested it the most uncomplimentary of things.
It would be a fascinating thing, to think that perhaps "extremophiles" - organisms that can survive in extreme conditions - might have somehow evolved on Mars. What if the microbes discovered in hostile environments on Earth share a common history with potential microbes on Mars?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
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