Life On Mars Search Could Be Misled By False Fossils, Study Says

Composite image showing some of the types of fossil-like specimens created by chemical reactions that could be found on Mars. Credit: Sean McMahon, Julie Cosmidis and Joti Rouillard

Mars explorers searching for signs of ancient life could be fooled by fossil-like specimens created by chemical processes, research suggests.

Rocks on Mars may contain numerous types of non-biological deposits that look similar to the kinds of fossils likely to be found if the planet ever supported life, a study says.

Telling these false fossils apart from what could be evidence of ancient life on the surface of Mars—which was temporarily habitable four billion years ago—is key to the success of current and future missions, researchers say.

Read more here

www.messagetoeagle.com - best news from the past, present and future

Source: https://www.messagetoeagle.com/life-on-mars-search-could-be-misled-by-false-fossils-study-says/