Low temp origin consistent with Martian microbe theory

17 Jun 2002

A new study on a Mars meteorite, known as Alan Hills 84001, supports a low-temperature origin for carbonate globules inside the rock. This new evidence isconsistent with theories that microscopic depositions in the rock may be the fossilized remains of bacteria. While recent papers have suggested a high-temperatureorigin for the carbonate globules in ALH8401 of up to 650 degrees centigrade, the recent test suggests a potential formation temperature of less than 300 degrees C,and possibly cool enough for microscopic life to have flourished.

"We felt confident that some parts of this study could be solved in a relatively short time frame, and this is one of those issues," said Dr. Christopher Romanek of theUniversity of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, S.C. "This work supports our earlier interpretation for a low-temperature origin of theglobules." The research was published this week in the journal Science.