Did life on Earth actually come from the Red Planet?
By Irene Klotz
Given the same raw materials, Mars would have been a better host for life to arise than Earth, which some scientists believe was too flooded for the chemistry of life to gain a toehold.
Without at least occasional dry land, the chemistry needed to get life started doesn’t work very well because the molecules to support genetics, such as RNA, are chemically unstable in many ways, particularly in water.
Image: Aurora
NASA
Aurora makes for must-see TV
Science editor Alan Boyle’s blog: The shimmering aurora sparks great videos as well as photography from northern and southern sides of the globe. Check out the latest highlights.