In 1976, NASA sent the Viking 1 mission to Mars, with the aim of investigating the presence of life on the red planet. The mission included two landers that performed groundbreaking experiments. The results at the time seemed to indicate that there was no life. But nearly half a century later, a new theory is raising questions: Did NASA’s approach at the time possibly destroy the existence of microbes on Mars?
The Viking landers conducted various experiments to detect organic matter and signs of life. Those experiments ultimately yielded nothing. Astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch from the University of Berlin, who has been studying the subject for some time, suggests in an essay in the journal Nature However, NASA made a crucial mistake during these missions: it assumed that Martian life – just like on Earth – needs a lot of water. During the experiments, water was mixed with Martian sand, which could have been deadly for Martian bacteria, according to Schulze-Makuch.
NASA has long been guided by the search for water in its search for extraterrestrial life. However, critics like Schulze-Makuch point out that this strategy focuses too much on earthly norms. According to the researcher, life on Mars would survive in hyper-dry conditions, for example by using hygroscopic salts (substances that can attract water from the air).
Drowned bacteria due to Viking experiments?
In other words, if there are microbes on Mars, they may have adapted to the extreme drought on the red planet. By adding water to soil samples, these organisms could have literally “drowned,” Schulze-Makuch argues, preventing us from detecting them.
While the hypothesis cannot be confirmed without new missions, it does raise important questions about NASA’s approach. Future missions should focus on organisms that can live without direct water, according to Schulze-Makuch. Experiments should take into account the unique conditions of Mars, rather than using Earth standards.
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Source: www.bright.nl
