Viking on Mars Might Have Detected Life After All, Scientists Say

A Space.com article reports that new analyses of the Viking 1/2 data suggest the mission may have detected signs of life on Mars after all. The 2008 discovery of perchlorate on Mars explains why Viking’s GC-MS didn’t find organics, since perchlorate can break down organics into CO2 and methyl chloride when heated. This supports the BARSOOM microbial-life hypothesis and prompts a renewed scientific debate about Viking’s results and Mars’ habitability, as Astrobiology researchers argue for revisiting the 50-year-old conclusions.