Democratic Underground - Ammonia on Mars Could Mean Life (BBC) -- This is BIG!

Ammonia on Mars Could Mean Life (BBC) -- This is BIG! [View All]

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Sun Jul-18-04 05:47 PM
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Ammonia on Mars Could Mean Life (BBC) -- This is BIG!

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Edited on Sun Jul-18-04 05:57 PM by ribofunk

Ammonia may have been found in Mars' atmosphere which some scientists say could indicate life on the Red Planet.

Researchers say its spectral signature has been tentatively detected by sensors on board the European Space Agency's orbiting Mars Express craft.

Ammonia survives for only a short time in the Martian atmosphere so it must be getting constantly replenished.

There are two possible sources: either active volcanoes, none of which have been found yet on Mars, or microbes.

----snip

Ammonia is not a stable molecule in the Martian atmosphere. If it was not replenished in some way, it would only last a few hours before it vanished.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3896335.stm

I can't believe this hasn't gotten more play. Must be because it came from the European orbiter.

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Ammonia on Mars Could Mean Life (BBC) -- This is BIG! [View All]