[meteorite-list] Astrobiologists Find Ancient Fossils inFireballFragments

From: Michael Mulgrew <mikestang_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:28:22 -0700
Message-ID: <CAMseTy33Cvri_vjqX1YgqiDHH=JB35RnEp6YcPcUa+4a_0_Fzw_at_mail.gmail.com>

Considering our current understanding of what it takes for life to
develop, i.e. water is 100% absolutely necessary, I would say the
recent evidence of Mars' wet past increases the chances of
extraterrestrial life discovery by much, much more than "a tiny tiny
amount".

Michael in so. Cal.

On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 9:03 AM, Mark Ford
<mark.ford at southernscientific.co.uk> wrote:
>
> Sure and I don't deny finding water or evidence of it is very exciting, but what I question, is 'the building blocks of life claim'. This is pure hype. Sure water and amino acids are essential for life, but I would question exactly how certain life is to evolve when water alone is present. The answer is it's massively more complex than just having flowing water. So finding water does not immediately mean there is any life. From some of the recent press and Nasa coverage, you would get the impression that finding water on Mars automatically means the hunt for extraterrestrial life is nearly over, but the truth is very far from it! It just makes it a tiny tiny amount more likely..
>
> Mark
Received on Wed 13 Mar 2013 12:28:22 PM PDT