A new theory suggests that NASA killed evidence of life on Mars over 50 years ago when an experiment gave unexpected results. The experiment showed positive results initially, but further tests did not confirm them. Additionally, an instrument designed to detect organic compounds found only trace amounts of chlorinated organics.
) notes, one part of the test showed positive results initially. However, the gas exchange experiment did not show any positive results. Further, an instrument on the Viking landers designed to detect organic compounds did not find anything but trace amounts of chlorinated organics.While exciting, the scientists of the time assumed that because there were no organic bodies of any type, the chlorinated organics had to be contamination from Earth.
Now we know for sure that indigenous organic compounds do exist on Mars, which means those trace amounts found in the 1970s were likely not contamination from Earth. Of course, there’s no real way to prove they were from Mars. But, having a fuller picture of everything we have learned about the Red Planet in the past 50 years, it certainly does appear like it could have been.
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