NASA confirms rumors about Mars discovery ‘incorrect’
Has Curiosity found hints of microbial life? Not yet, according to NASA.
(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
What were you hoping for with the big juicy Mars discovery that a NASA researcher hinted at? Aliens? Kuato? Jimmy Hoffa?
As you’ll no doubt recall, NASA investigator John Grotzinger was quoted as saying that data from the Curiosity rover suggested a discovery of epic significance. Well, here’s your official oven-fresh serving of disappointment.
Today NASA confirmed there’s no earth-shaking finding from the soil samples analyzed with Curiosity’s on-board chemistry lab.
“Rumors and speculation that there are major new findings from the mission at this early stage are incorrect,” NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced in a release.
“One class of substances Curiosity is checking for is organic compounds — carbon-containing chemicals that can be ingredients for life. At this point in the mission, the instruments on the rover have not detected any definitive evidence of Martian organics.”