Martian Meteorite Not Evidence of Extraterrestrials, Scientists Say (Charles Q. Choi)

Created by : Francis Goodwin View profile

Infamous Mars rock purported to carry signs of Martian biology. Years later, debate continues to swirl around meteorite ALH84001 and whether or not biological processes in the rock of ages are truly evident.

Dec. 2, 2010 (SPACE.com) -- What some argue is evidence of ancient life in a meteorite from Mars could have a simple chemical explanation, scientists now suggest.

These findings could also shed light on of the tricky chemistry going on in the atmospheres of both Mars and Earth.

Impacting space rocks on Mars over the years have hurled debris off the planet, some of which has landed on Earth. One such rock -- the 3.9 billion-year-old meteorite known as ALH84001 -- had globular, micron-sized carbonate particles seemingly arranged in chains that some thought must have been made by ancient Martian life.

However, researchers have now discovered a new way to form carbonates on Earth without interference from biological organisms. They suggest this process likely takes place on Mars as well.