Scientists: Salt in Mars soil not bad for life (Update)

August 5, 2008 Scientists say Mars soil similar to Chile desert (AP)

This image provided by NASA shows a scraped area known as "Snow White," on July 8, 2008 on Mars. Scientists operating the Phoenix spacecraft say the Martian soil near the north pole landing site is similar to what can be found in Chile's Atacama Desert on Earth. The lander recently detected rocket fuel ingredient in sample of soil taken from the surface. Scientists say the chemical _ perchlorate -- is found in the Chilean desert where extreme microbes thrive, according to a report Tuesday Aug. 5, 2008.(AP Photo/NASA)

(AP) -- Traces of a rocket fuel ingredient found in the Martian soil would not necessarily hinder potential life, mission scientists said Tuesday.

Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .

Similar stories from PHYSorg:

Many characteristics of Mars, including ice, are similar to Earth

Jul 02, 2009 | 4.5 / 5 (4) | 2

Phoenix Heads for Mars

Aug 04, 2007 | 4.8 / 5 (18) | 0

Scientists prepare for Mars experiments

Jun 18, 2007 | 3.3 / 5 (3) | 0

Martian soil may contain detrimental substance

Aug 05, 2008 | 4.4 / 5 (30) | 6

CDC: Rocket fuel chemical found in baby formula

Apr 03, 2009 | 4.2 / 5 (5) | 1

Rate this story - 4.4 /5 (19 votes)

rank
1
2
3
4
5

view popular

Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.

Display comments: newest first

bobwinners - Aug 07, 2008
- Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
I'll wait to form an opinion until there is a lot more evidence available. I do appreciate the news, though.
- report abuse
- - Current rank
  - 1
  - 2
  - 3
  - 4
  - 5
out7x - Aug 07, 2008
- Rank: not rated yet
perchlorate, ClO4 is a negative ion. What is attached to it?
- report abuse
- - Current rank
  - 1
  - 2
  - 3
  - 4
  - 5

Other News

Titan's lakes could be explored by boat

Space & Earth / Space Exploration

5 hours ago | 5 / 5 (3) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- If a suggestion to be made to NASA comes to fruition, vast lakes thought to be filled with liquid hydrocarbons near the north pole of Saturn's moon Titan, may one day be explored by boat.

A New Method of Estimating Stellar Distances

Space & Earth / Astronomy

22 hours ago | 4.4 / 5 (13) | 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- The star Chi Cygni is located about 550 light-years away, in the direction of the constellation of Cygnus the Swan. It is a notable star because, unlike the sun which still burns hydrogen ...

Most of 47,000 Filipinos safe from raging volcano

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

6 hours ago | 4 / 5 (1) | 0

(AP) -- Almost all of the 47,000 residents living on the slopes of a rumbling volcano in the central Philippines have moved to emergency shelters, and lava and earthquakes Tuesday heralded what officials ...

Highlight: California, Nevada Lakes Warming Rapidly

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

21 hours ago | 3.4 / 5 (5) | 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new JPL study examines the impact recent variability in climate is having on the surface temperatures of large lakes in California and Nevada.

Cornellians build computer climate-change model

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

20 hours ago | 2.7 / 5 (7) | 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- Researchers are contributing to a new model of climate change that may give more accurate predictions of the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earth's future.