Accidental Destruction of Potential Martian Life 50 Years Ago

The Viking landers sent to Mars in the 1970s conducted the only life detection experiments ever conducted on another planet. While some of the experiments were initially positive for life, the gas exchange experiment was not. However, recent discoveries of indigenous organic compounds on Mars have led some scientists to believe that the Viking landers may have inadvertently killed Martian life by adding water to the soil samples. A new mission to Mars dedicated primarily to life detection is needed to test this hypothesis and explore potential habitats where life could persist.