Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006aas...209.3503s&link_type=abstract
2007 AAS/AAPT Joint Meeting, American Astronomical Society Meeting 209, #35.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, V
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
Many of the results of the Viking life detection experiments remain puzzling to this day. Here, we present a hypothesis that would explain the Viking observations remarkably well: putative Martian organisms might incorporate H2O2 into their intracellular liquids as adaptation to Martian environmental conditions. Contrary to common belief, H2O2 is used by many terrestrial organisms for diverse purposes (e.g., metabolism (Acetobacter peroxidans)), as defense mechanism (Bombardier beetle), and also to mediate diverse physiological responses such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. This adaptation would have several advantages such as a providing a low freezing point, a source of oxygen, and hygroscopicity, allowing an organism to obtain water vapor from the Martian atmosphere. It would explain many of the puzzling Viking observations such as (1) the lack of organics detected by GC-MS, (2) the lack of detected oxidant(s) to support a chemical explanation, (3) evolution of O2 upon wetting (GEx experiment), (4) limited organic synthesis reactions (PR experiment), and (5) the gas release observations made (LR experiment; Table). Our hypothesis of Martian organisms that would utilize a H2O mixture as an intracellular liquid is of great consequence for future missions searching for extant life on Mars such as the Mars Phoenix, ExoMars, and Mars Science Laboratory missions, and future sampling return missions. Rather than exploring in the equatorial belt, where temperatures might allow liquid water to exist for only brief periods of time, life may well exist in temperate or sub-arctic regions, where temperatures are colder and the atmosphere contains more water vapor.
Houtkooper Joop M.
Schulze-Makuch Dirk
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