Prioritize the Search for Extant Life on Mars with NASA-DARES 2025
Posted inAstrobiology Life on Mars Mars NASA Single Scoops

Prioritize the Search for Extant Life on Mars with NASA-DARES 2025

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Mars Exploration Program (MEP) are hereby recommended by Christopher Temby and Agnostic Life Finding Association to ensure that the highest priority science objective in the coming decade for the 2025 Decadal Astrobiology Research and Exploration Strategy (NASA-DARES 2025) is a search for an extant Martian biosphere before human arrival.
February 10, 2025Posted inAstrobiology, Life on Mars, Mars, NASA, Single ScoopsNo Comments
The BARSOOM Model for Life on Mars
Posted inLife on Mars Single Scoops

The BARSOOM Model for Life on Mars

Many different metabolic strategies might let life survive on Mars where Viking landed. One in particular explains all of the observations made by Viking. In addition, it is consistent with chemical principles, and "clever" natural selection likely evolved these Bacterial Autotrophs Respiring with Stored Oxygen in Overnight Metabolism as fit solutions to the challenges of living on the Martian surface.
November 18, 2023Posted inLife on Mars, Single ScoopsNo Comments
Why does the NASA Culture Still Get Viking 1976 Wrong?
Posted inLife on Mars Single Scoops

Why does the NASA Culture Still Get Viking 1976 Wrong?

Because one item of data from the 1976 Viking mission to Mars was misinterpreted, the NASA "consensus" has for a half century held that no life exists today on the surface of Mars. As is frequently seen in science, facts and logic have failed to dislodge this cultural belief. If we are ever to meet our neighbors, we must take matters into our own hands.
November 13, 2023Posted inLife on Mars, Single ScoopsNo Comments
Science, Hype, and Prebiotic Chemistry
Posted inAstrobiology Life Origin of Life Single Scoops

Science, Hype, and Prebiotic Chemistry

Commenting on our report that basalt glass catalyzes formation of polyribonucleic acid, Jack Szostak found it "very frustrating that the authors have made an interesting initial findings but then decided to go with the hype rather than the science". This offers an opportunity to discuss classical chemical structure proof, and the timing of scientific publications.
June 18, 2022Posted inAstrobiology, Life, Origin of Life, Single Scoops6 Comments
Ribonucleic acid is formed by percolating ribonucleoside triphosphates through basalt glass
Posted inLife on Mars Origin of Life Single Scoops

Ribonucleic acid is formed by percolating ribonucleoside triphosphates through basalt glass

This simple reaction is the last step in a modeled "discontinuous" process that moves from sulfite- and borate-stabilized carbohydrates, a post-impact atmosphere, and rock species delivered from basalt glass, all of the way to what might be the process forming what might have been the first genetic molecules on Earth ... and Mars.
June 4, 2022Posted inLife on Mars, Origin of Life, Single Scoops1 Comment
NASA’s “Standards” White Paper. Does NASA’s drive for consensus make young scientists susceptible to being trampled by mastodons?
Posted inAstrobiology Single Scoops

NASA’s “Standards” White Paper. Does NASA’s drive for consensus make young scientists susceptible to being trampled by mastodons?

Survival in the Ice Age required youth who were able to balance instruction from their elders with a rebellious streak sufficient to reject their instructions when survival required adaptation. Does NASA's need for consensus upset this balance?
May 25, 2022Posted inAstrobiology, Single ScoopsNo Comments