NASA denies rumors of finding life on Mars

NASA denies rumors of finding life on Mars

en.wikinews.org

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

NASA has denied media and internet speculation that the Phoenix Lander has found life on the 'Red Planet', Mars and has also denied that the White House in the United States has been briefed on such matters that would lead up to an announcement by NASA later this week. This comes just after NASA stated on July 31, that Phoenix confirmed the presence of water-ice on Mars.

Rumors began to spread on the internet Saturday after an unnamed scientist working on the Phoenix Mission stated to Aviation Week & Space Technology, the White House had been briefed on "provocative and complex" information that NASA has yet to disclose to the public regarding the "potential for life on Mars." The scientist said that the announcement will be regarding the habitability of Mars rather than finding actual life. The scientist also said that the information had been excluded from the July 31 press conference.

NASA immediately denied those claims sending out a message on Twitter, a social networking and micro-blogging website which is used by NASA to communicate to the public in a style pretending that the Lander itself is talking to its readers, stating, "Heard about the recent news reports implying I may have found Martian life. Those reports are incorrect. Reports claiming there was a White House briefing are also untrue and incorrect." The Phoenix Lander, according to NASA, does not have the ability to detect life, past or present, but the Lander's MECA microscopy station could potentially 'see' bacteria in the soil, which NASA states have not been discovered.

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[edit on 8/6/2008 by JacKatMtn]

I'm confused?

en.wikinews.org
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reply to post by LunarLooney1


I think i read somewhere last night that Nasa released a statement about a "provocative and complex" finding in the soil in Mars.
Basically Nasa said that the soil they analyzed was oxidized and so was unable to support life. This soil may have been contaminated by the lander so they have not made a big deal about it.

Before you ask, i dont have a link, im too lazy to look for one

reply to post by Dermo

Thank you! I keep reading different stories as well and so I'm confused, but I'll keep trying to get a straight answer... if that's at all possible.