Life On Mars -

In 2008, Phoenix lander discovered perchlorate —a powerful oxidant—in the Martian soil. When you heat perchlorate, it burns organic molecules before you can detect them. This means Viking might have literally incinerated the very organic evidence it was looking for. The question of whether Viking saw life or chemistry is still debated in astrobiology conferences today.

The modern obsession with Martian life began in the late 19th century. In 1877, Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli observed linear features on the planet's surface, which he called canali (channels). This term was mistranslated into English as "canals," implying an artificial construction. Life On Mars

We have found the water. We have found the organics. We have found the energy gradients. The only remaining piece of the puzzle is the life itself. In 2008, Phoenix lander discovered perchlorate —a powerful

The question of has evolved from a science fiction dream into one of the most rigorous scientific pursuits of the 21st century. While we have yet to find a "smoking gun," recent discoveries by rovers and orbiters suggest that the Red Planet was once a hospitable world, and may even harbor microbial life in its deep, frozen recesses today. The Ancient Habitability of Mars The question of whether Viking saw life or

However, humans bring problems: