Autotrophy on Mars (3): Misinterpreting the Viking Photosynthesis Experiment
Posted inAstrobiology Life on Mars Mars

Autotrophy on Mars (3): Misinterpreting the Viking Photosynthesis Experiment

Viking’s carbon fixation experiment looked for conversion of ¹⁴CO₂/¹⁴CO into organics, but its two-signal (“Peak 1” vs “Peak 2”) readout is ambiguous because inorganic carbonate/bicarbonate retention can mimic fixation and oxidants can convert labeled organics back into ¹⁴CO₂ during heating. The discovery of perchlorate strengthens an alternative interpretation in which Peak 1 could include combustion-derived ¹⁴CO₂ from fixed organics—meaning Viking may have measured substantially more carbon fixation than the original interpretation suggested.
Posted inAstrobiology, Life on Mars, MarsNo Comments
Autotrophy on Mars (2): Viking Detects Martian “Photosynthesis”
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Autotrophy on Mars (2): Viking Detects Martian “Photosynthesis”

Viking’s carbon assimilation experiment was designed to detect whether Martian soil could fix labeled inorganic carbon (¹⁴CO₂/¹⁴CO) into “higher” organic matter, and it returned a small but statistically significant signal in the fraction interpreted as newly formed organics. However, the results were dominated by a much larger labeled CO₂/CO release that bypassed the organic trap (the “Peak 1” anomaly), raising the possibility of false positive results due to adsorption or carbonate chemistry.
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Autotrophy on Mars (1): Tests to Detect Martian Photosynthesis
Posted inAstrobiology Life Life on Mars Mars

Autotrophy on Mars (1): Tests to Detect Martian Photosynthesis

Here I examine Viking’s carbon assimilation (a.k.a. “pyrolytic release”) experiments aimed to detect Martian autotrophy by following labeled carbon from atmospheric CO/CO₂ into soil organics, followed by the release of labeled volatile gases by pyrolysis. These experiments were prone to both false negatives (oxidants burning organics) and false positives (alkaline soils binding CO₂). And yet when taken in context of the current understanding, these results might be the most important in the series of the Viking biological experiments and are worth studying in detail.
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The Viking Experiments on Mars: An Overview
Posted inAstrobiology Life Life on Mars Mars NASA

The Viking Experiments on Mars: An Overview

Half a century ago, Viking delivered evidence suggesting metabolically active life on Mars, but its legacy was derailed by a mistaken GC–MS interpretation that shaped Mars exploration for decades. This is the firsts article in a series that reexamines Viking’s experiments and results from primary data, shows how they were (mis)interpreted, and that suggests life-finding strategies.
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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.
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IMPRESS to Deliver Art and Science to Mars
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IMPRESS to Deliver Art and Science to Mars

The image depicts a concept art: a five meters tall titanium penetrator imbedded in the Martian soil. The scientific payload and cameras broadcasting statue's selfies reside in the half-buried pedestal. Long after the science mission ends, this statue will serve as a landscape feature and a message to the future generations.
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Evolution is cleverer than you are
Posted inLife on Mars Mars

Evolution is cleverer than you are

Biology is very difficult to predict but surprisingly easy to bend to fit any observed results. Life on Mars might employ various pathways to generate energy and fix reduced carbon. Contrary to Steven Benner's claims, at least some of the potential pathways do not involve the generation of molecular oxygen.
Posted inLife on Mars, Mars2 Comments