Press Release ~ Photographic Evidence ~ Scientists' Biographies


A NASA research team of scientists at the Johnson Space Center and at Stanford University has found evidence that strongly suggests primitive life may have existed on Mars more than 3.6 billion years ago.

The NASA-funded team found the first organic molecules thought to be of Martian origin; several mineral features characteristic of biological activity; and possible microscopic fossils of primitive, bacteria-like organisms inside of an ancient Martian rock that fell to Earth as a meteorite. This array of indirect evidence of past life will be reported in the Aug. 16 issue of the journal Science, presenting the investigation to the scientific community at large to reach a future consensus that will either confirm or deny the team's conclusion.

Press Release 96-160 - Meteorite Yields Evidence of Primitive Life on Early Mars.

Scientists' Biographies - Biographies of some of the scientists who made the discovery.

Meteorite Fact Sheet - Information on the Antarctic Meteorite Program and the Mars meteorites.

Mars Meteorite Fact Sheet - Information on the Mars meteorites.

Photographic Evidence - Photographic evidence supporting the Discovery.

Press Release 96-159 - Statement from Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator.

Audio - Real Audio coverage of the press conference.

Video - Video animation related to the discovery.




The Discovery ~ Astromaterials ~ Mars Exploration

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