Almost uncountably,
the question "Where did life originate" has been asked by an almost equal,
uncountable number of scientists. The debate between evolution, creation, and an
infinite number of other theories has been going on earth for almost one hundred and
twenty years. Now, due to scientific exploration on the "Red Planet", the origin
of life debate has shifted focus and perspective to new theories about similar origins for
life on Mars and maybe even the possibility that life was brought to earth from Mars. The
shift in focus is demonstrated by this Andrew Chaikin quote (Popular Science, 7/ 97):
"Somewhere in astronomer heaven, Percival Lowell must be smiling. A century after Lowell trained his telescope on Mars and claimed he saw canals built by intelligent beings, scientists are once again in the grip of the "Red Planet’s" most seductive mystery – the possibility that life has existed there."
"Did a microscopic race of Martians leave their traces inside a potato – sized rock that fell on Antarctica (approximately) 13,000 years ago? Even as a new wave of Mars exploration began in July of ’97 – NASA’s Mars Pathfinder lander arrived on July 4 – researchers on Earth began a massive effort to answer that question, which had and is becoming one of the most controversial in science. No doubt Lowell, whose name has come to be synonymous with scientific wishful thinking, would want to know how it all turns out." (Andrew Chaikin)
As the question has been raised time and time again, the possibility of the origin of the existence of life on this planet coming from somewhere else in the universe has always remained in the background of the entire "Origin of Life" picture. As of recent scientific exploration and findings, a meteor from Mars (suspectedly), recovered from Antarctica, has possible remains of microscopic life encased within. Due to these findings, a group of scientists have begun fully backing the idea that these microbes were possibly related to microbes which landed on the pre – evolutionary earth and evolved into the many life forms that exist on this planet today.
Around the speculation that life originated on Mars and traveled to Earth, a group of scientists are happy to just stick to the opinion that only life existed on Mars and hasn’t been shown to have possibly traveled and lived here on Earth. Information and data that have been acquired through recent missions like Pathfinder seem to only support the idea that life could have existed on Mars at one point in time when the atmosphere, climate, and surface conditions of Mars were considerably different. However, the data and findings that some believe supposedly back the idea that that life came to Earth from Mars aren’t concrete and accurate in the minds of these more conservatively grounded scientists.
Who ever said that scientific data and research discover answers? Many have said and continue to say that research and exploration create many more questions than they do answers. This is one of the main foundations for many scientists who assumed an opposing position to that of those scientists who back the idea that life was proven to have existed on Mars. Information, data, and findings concerning Mars, they feel, are inconclusive and weak in their ability to prove that life existed on Mars. Also, that microbes found in meteorite ALH84001 aren't as some scientists say they seem.
As long as this information has been presented to human minds, there has been intense discussion and debate as to the relevance of this data and the ability of it to support theories of sed humans. The main focus of these discussions has now zero'd in on the "Life on Mars" theory. Mars has always been a large part of the planetary exploration of us here on Earth. However, now, with new found information, the theories are piling up and scientists are arguing about possilbe directions into which this information might lead. Unfortunatley, like Chaikin said, "Until we stop arguing, there is NO ANSWER!"
Throughout the exploration of Mars many scientific missions have been sent to Mars and recovered reems of information pertaining to scientific tests and results which have been obtained through these missions. Many methods of information gathering and devices have been utilized in this endeavor to obtain information about our neighboring planet. The page covers information about the analysis devices and techniques involved in the exploration of Mars and the meteorite recovered from Antarctica which originate on the "Red Planet."
The idea that life, at one time, existed on Mars may not be totally proven to be true but another lifeform may be living there in a few decades. Mars has been cited as being the closest related planet to Earth as far as planetary conditions and possible colonization for humans. Scientists are theorizing and prophesizing ways to possibly manipulate and change Mars' planetary conditions so that it is stable enough to support human life. The colonization of Mars may be a huge advantage to humans in the future as the environmental problems which we are producing for ourselves on Earth may very well make this planet unbearable in a short period of time. It very well may save our lives.
