A field experiment in Chile’s Atacama Desert found ATP vanished in eight months and chlorophyll survived only as decay products unless shielded by clays and salts. That implies Martian biomolecules would rapidly degrade unless protected, so future rovers should hunt for larger, complex organics in mineral matrices that preserve them. Interpreting 'organics found' on Mars should therefore be cautious without context and complexity.
— This reshapes both media narratives and mission priorities by specifying where and how to credibly look for life on Mars.
BeauHD
2025.10.15
40% relevant
Finding that a robust Earth eukaryote can endure perchlorates and shock waves underscores how terrestrial contamination could confound future biosignature detection on Mars, reinforcing the need to target protected niches and stringent planetary‑protection practices.
Dirk Schulze-Makuch
2025.09.17
100% relevant
Felix Arens’ Scientific Reports study exposed biomolecules to Atacama conditions; only decay products persisted when protected by clay/salt, while Perseverance’s recent 'organics' detections lack definitive biological context.
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