NASA has evidence of microbial life on Mars

[Cyber]

 

[TBRS1]

If there is (or was) life on Mars, the probability that some form of life is all over the universe goes way, way up.

That would be awesomely awesome.

Wanna be real careful about being sure though.

 

[Outdated]

Wanna be real careful about being sure though.

There is no conclusive evidence yet.

Scientists are excited over the possibility because formations look similar to those we see on Earth but we won't know for certain until after those samples have been collected and returned to Earth for proper testing. That is highly unlikely to happen any time before 2040.

At the moment the only information they have is visual - it looks like it could be.

Mars rover finds strongest potential evidence yet of ancient life

 

[Dagan]

I really wish Bowie lived long enough to hear this. That would have been cool.

 

[Jumpinbare]

I guess I forgot to disinfect when I left Mars last time.

 

[Judge]

Life indigenous to Mars, or life that once landed there?

Oddly enough I watched the film "The Andromeda Strain" (1971) only two nights ago. Still a great film.

 

[Cyber]

Yes NASA still has to examine rock samples and test samples. Scanning electron microscopy should confirm if the rock is fossilised bacteria. However judging from the excitement from the NASA biologists this looks like they have hit "paydirt" (pardon the pun).

NASA cannot confirm if a rock is bacteria without the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program, which aims to bring samples collected by the Perseverance rover to Earth for advanced laboratory analysis. While the Perseverance rover has found intriguing signs of potential ancient microbial life on Mars, such as the "Cheyava Falls" rock, current on-site analysis is insufficient to confirm a biological origin, making Earth-based study necessary to rule out non-biological explanations.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/10/science/nasa-mars-sapphire-falls-rock-sample

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

This is so exciting!

 

[Crossbreed]

...but we won't know for certain until after those samples have been collected and returned to Earth for proper testing. That is highly unlikely to happen any time before 2040.

NASA cannot confirm if a rock is bacteria without the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program, which aims to bring samples collected by the Perseverance rover to Earth for advanced laboratory analysis.

Martian bacteria sent to Earth for analysis...!?

That sounds like the beginning premise of a B movie (that is, if AI does not subjugate us all first...)!

It Came From Outer Darkness! Mitch & Allen Live (1983)

 

[Jumpinbare]

Martian bacteria sent to Earth for analysis...!?

That sounds like the beginning premise of a B movie (that is, if AI does not subjugate us all first...)!

It Came From Outer Darkness! Mitch & Allen Live (1983)​

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[Hypnalis]

Yes NASA still has to examine rock samples and test samples. Scanning electron microscopy should confirm if the rock is fossilised bacteria. However judging from the excitement from the NASA biologists this looks like they have hit "paydirt" (pardon the pun).

<...>

NASA has hit paydirt.

This will do wonders for their budget - it might be enough to lock in the proposed "Sample Return" mission.
NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return - Wikipedia

OFC I'm 100% sure the identification of a media-friendly "charismatic" objective at this particular time is completely unrelated to the project definition and funding approval cycle.

On the other hand, if USD 10 billion or so of my money (/lol) was at stake, I'd be taking a very close look at how this announcement came about.