Italian magazine claims Phoenix contaminated Mars with terrestrial bacteria |
Italian magazine claims Phoenix contaminated Mars with terrestrial bacteria |
Sep 1 2008, 05:04 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 109 Joined: 20-January 07 From: Milano, ITALY Member No.: 1633 |
I have just read a short story by Alex Saragosa published on issue 1067 (29 Aug 2008, pag. 61) of the italian magazine "il venerdì", a Friday supplement of the major national newspaper la repubblica. The story, titled "I batteri terrestri hanno invaso il pianeta rosso" (terrestrial bacteria have invaded the red planet), claims a group of JPL bilogists analyzed samples from the room where Phoenix was assembled and found 26,000 bacterial cells per square meter from 100 different species, including highly radiation resistant Bacillus pumilis. According to the story, these bacteria may have survived the trip to Mars.
I have never heard anything similar from reliable sources (i.e. anything but la Repubblica) . Any info? Paolo Amoroso -------------------- Avventure Planetarie - Blog sulla comunicazione e divulgazione scientifica
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Sep 10 2008, 04:07 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
But... how are we currently looking (or have any idea how to look for) non-DNA-based life?
Gets back to my earlier post. It appears that every life-detection experiment is *only* looking for life identical to that found on Earth -- DNA-based, made of organic molecules, using the ADP-ATP cycle to generate chemical energy. It's almost a slam-dunk that any life such sensors *do* detect is a result of contamination... isn't it? -the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Sep 10 2008, 07:19 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
It appears that every life-detection experiment is *only* looking for life identical to that found on Earth .... It's almost a slam-dunk that any life such sensors *do* detect is a result of contamination... isn't it? No. Why would you think that "DNA-based, made of organic molecules, using the ADP-ATP cycle" life is exclusive to Earth? |
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