Planetary scientists sharing ideas and discoveries.

Planetary Science Research Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research being made by NASA-sponsored scientists on meteorites, planets, and other bodies in our Solar System. The website is supported by the Cosmochemistry Program of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and by Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium and is a vital link for planetary and space sciences, and for learning how science works.

Supported by NASA's Cosmochemistry Program and Hawai`i Space Grant Consortium.

Archive of Mars Life Articles

DATE POSTED	ARTICLES
30 OCT 07	Did an Impact Make the Mysterious Microscopic Magnetite Crystals in ALH 84001? by G. Jeffrey Taylor Tiny crystals of magnetite in Martian meteorite ALH 84001 might have been made when shock waves decomposed iron carbonate.	PSRD-magnitite-origin.pdf
19 JUNE 07	Oxidants from Pulverized Minerals by Linda M. V. Martel Laboratory measurements of hydrogen peroxide produced from crushed basaltic minerals immersed in water have important implications for Martian and lunar dust.	PSRD-H2O2.pdf
26 OCT 06	LIBS: Remote Chemical Analysis by Linda M. V. Martel Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an active remote sensing technique used for the rapid characterization of elemental compositions of materials.	PSRD-libs.pdf
23 DEC 04	Cosmochemistry and Human Exploration by G. Jeffrey Taylor Cosmochemistry plays an important role in developing local resources on the Moon and Mars, essential to sustained human presence in space.	PSRD-spaceResources.pdf
1 JULY 04	Carbonates in ALH 84001: Part of the Story of Water on Mars by Catherine M. Corrigan The study of multi-generational carbonate assemblages in Martian meteorite ALH 84001 reveals a complex history of crystal formation, growth, and alteration.	PSRD-carbonatesALH84001.pdf
28 OCT 03	Show Me the Carbonates by Linda M. V. Martel Carbonate minerals intermingle with silicates in the Martian surface dust.	PSRD-carbonatesMars.pdf
29 AUG 03	Gullied Slopes on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel Do the Martian gullies tell us something about the stability and distribution of near-surface water?	PSRD-MartianGullies.pdf
16 JULY 03	Ancient Floodwaters and Seas on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel Surface deposits within the northern lowlands support the oceans hypothesis.	PSRD-MartianSea.pdf
13 MAR 03	Gray Iron Oxide on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel A deposit of gray hematite in Terra Meridiani may suggest that water once circulated through the rock layers in this region of Mars.	PSRD-Meridiani.pdf
5 JUNE 02	Dirty Ice on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor Instruments on the Odyssey spacecraft show that a lot of dirty ice sits within a meter of the surface in the south polar latitudes of Mars.	PSRD-MarsGRSice.pdf
13 MAY 02	Resolution of a Big Argument About Tiny Magnetic Minerals in Martian Meteorite by Edward R. D. Scott and David J. Barber Magnetic minerals in Martian meteorite ALH 84001 formed as a result of impact heating and decomposition of carbonate. They were never used as compasses by Martian microorganisms.	PSRD-ALH84001magnetite.pdf
14 JUNE 01	Outflow Channels May Make a Case for a Bygone Ocean on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter data have given scientists a new perspective of the dry channels in Chryse Planitia and a new approach to testing the Martian ancient ocean hypothesis.	PSRD-MarsChryse.pdf
24 APRIL 01	Gullies and Canyons, Rocks and Experiments: The Mystery of Water on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor The combination of analyses of Martian meteorites and laboratory experiments helps scientists understand how water in magma has changed the Martian crust and surface.	PSRD-waterFromRocks.pdf
24 MAY 00	Liquid Water on Mars: The Story from Meteorites by G. Jeffrey Taylor Martian meteorites may have reacted with liquid water on Mars intermittently during the past 650 million years.	PSRD-wetMars.pdf
17 DEC 99	Zapping Mars Rocks with Gamma Rays by G. Jeffrey Taylor One way to sterilize samples from Mars is to zap them with gamma rays. Will this ruin the rock for other studies? Apparently not.	PSRD-gammaRays.pdf
30 JULY 99	Fossils Blowing in the Wind: More Contamination of Antarctic Meteorites by G. Jeffrey Taylor Terrestrial microfossils occur in cracks in Antarctic meteorites, making it difficult to search for extraterrestrial life in meteorites.	PSRD-contamination.pdf
3 JUNE 99	Martian Organic Matter in ALH84001? by G. Jeffrey Taylor Indigenous organic compounds in ALH84001 may be from meteorite bombardment of the surface of Mars.	PSRD-organicsBecker.pdf
21 APRIL 99	30th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference: Some Highlights by G. Jeffrey Taylor The annual LPSC featured bacteria, new views of the Moon, and an intriguing new meteorite.	PSRD-lpsc30.pdf
24 SEPT 98	For a Cup of Water on Mars. by Linda M. V. Martel Gusev crater's long history as a depositional site for water-laid sediments makes it a priority site for future biological explorations.	PSRD-GusevMars.pdf
17 FEB 98	Organic Compounds in Martian Meteorites May Be Terrestrial Contaminants by A. J. T. Jull Carbon-14 measurements indicate that most of the organic compounds in martian meteorite ALH84001 were acquired on Earth, not Mars, weakening the case for fossil martian life in the meteorite.	PSRD-OrganicsALH84001.pdf
18 DEC 97	Fossils in Martian Meteorite: Real or Imagined? by G. Jeffrey Taylor Some scientists suggest that the small, wormy structures in martian meteorite ALH84001 are features of the crystals in the rock, decorated with artifacts introduced during sample preparation, not nanofossils. The discoverers of the fossil-like objects disagree.	PSRD-LifeonMarsUpdate2.pdf
22 AUG 97	Testing the Evidence for Life on Mars: NASA and NSF Fund New Studies of Martian Meteorite . by G. Jeffrey Taylor Newly awarded grants will fund 23 projects to further analyze martian meteorite ALH84001 and the details that led to last year's announcement of possible ancient martian life.	PSRD-NewAwards.pdf
22 MAY 97	Shocked Carbonates may Spell N-o L-i-f-e in Martian Meteorite ALH84001. by Edward R. D. Scott Evidence for redistribution of carbonates by shock casts doubt on fossil life in martian meteorite.	PSRD-ShockedCarb.pdf
22 MAY 97	Low-temperature Origin of Carbonates Consistent with Life in ALH84001. by G. Jeffrey Taylor Evidence from magnetism and isotopes consistent with life in martian meteorite.	PSRD-LowTempCarb.pdf
31 MAR 97	Life on Mars--The Debate Continues. by G. Jeffrey Taylor Scientists continue their search for answers to the question of fossil life in a martian meteorite. Have we found evidence for life, nonbiologic processes or contamination? The great debate is far from over.	PSRD-LifeonMarsUpdate.pdf
31 MAR 97	Not Quite a Meeting of the Minds. by G. Jeffrey Taylor The debate about life in martian meteorite ALH 84001 at the 28th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference was vigorous. Some investigators will turn out to be right, others wrong, but there will be no losers.	PSRD-LPSCreport.pdf
18 OCT 96	Life on Mars? by G. Jeffrey Taylor A group of scientists, headed by Dr. David McKay of Johnson Space Center, have made a case for ancient life on Mars based on features in a meteorite found in Antarctica. Do we indeed have evidence of life on Mars?	PSRD-LifeonMars.pdf


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