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Ah, yes. From trusted anti-sensationalist science-based publication... er, uh... Business Insider?
Article highlights:
The rock, nicknamed Cheyava Falls, has three critical features:
- First, white veins of calcium sulfate are clear evidence that water once ran through it.
- Second, the rock tested positive for organic compounds, which are the carbon-based building blocks of life, as we know it.
- Third, it's speckled with tiny "leopard spots" that point to chemical reactions that are associated with microbial life here on Earth.
However, both the organic material and the leopard spots could have come from non-biological processes.
The rover has reached the limit of what it can learn about the rock.
They go on to say that the confidence in biosignature detection could be elevated significantly if the rock were brought back to Earth for closer study. And, it's implied that doing so would be a worthwhile endeavor.
Thank you for the highlights. This is an exciting discovery!
Does NASA really need to "score a win" or is that just click bait?
Yeah, unfortunately.
Theyβre a popularity based branch. You gotta clap to keep them alive.
The article actually goes into detail on that point.
This is exciting! Even if its not microbes its a fascinating find & a win for science.
Though I hate how a someone remotely piloting science experiments via a rover on friggin' mars has to worry about how "NASA needs this win". What is the point of humanity if we don't explore our universe! I find it it so frustrating.
I hope that one day, science can be a goal on it's own. Not just to gain profit or funding.
Goddamnit. Can you imagine being alive at a time when we finally confirm that life is not unique to Earth? I'm going to lose my shit.
Every time there is claim that Earth is some unique snowflake we are eventually proven wrong.
Some things that were said to be unique to Earth include being the center of the universe, being the only planet with a moon, being in a solar system, having an atmosphere, etc.
Yeah, we will eventually find life on Mars. Or at least solid confirmation that it did exist at some point.
Even if we find out Mars has always been lifeless, we'll find it somewhere eventually. I'm also convinced we're going to find something clearly alive (or that was once alive) that completely redefines our entire idea of life. Dunno what that could be, but like you said, every time we think something is unique, we find out it ain't. Our definition of life is going to turn out to be too narrow, eventually.
