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Scientists Look at Martian Salt for Ancient Life
eldavojohn writes "Is there life on Mars? Maybe not, but a better question might be whether or not it has ever existed on Mars? Scientists are claiming that the best indication for this will be in newly found evaporated salt deposits on Mars which they can use to check for cellulose. Here on earth, tiny fuzzy fibers have been found in salt dating back almost 250 million years making it the oldest known evidence of life on earth. Jack Griffith, a microbiologist from UNC, is quoted as saying, 'Cellulose was one of the earliest polymers organisms made during their evolution, so it pops out as the most likely thing you'd find on Mars, if you found anything at all. Looking for it in salt deposits is probably a very good way to go.'"
They're building landing pads for gay Martians!
D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. !
Guns are for wimps... Use a crossbow.. this way you can pin them to their chair when you go postal.
So my fantasy about pouring salt on a giant Mars Slug to save the astronaut colony still holds hope.
Table-ized A.I.
they needed a Scanning Electron Microscope....Are there any plans for a sample return mission to mars anytime soon?
I hope not. The possibility that it may contaminate Earth with a Mars infection we have no immunity for is too high. Even a 1-in-a-million chance is not worth it. Would you want to take a 1-to-million gamble with all of humanity? (Please, no G.W.Bush jokes). We'd probably need to set up an orbiting or moon base lab for that so that any infected workers are incubated away from Earth for at least a few years.
Table-ized A.I.
He can't do that. He's too busy at church.