Life In a Frozen Earth Volcano, Maybe Life on Mars |
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Written by spacetravel.org
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Friday, 07 October 2005 22:33 |
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While testing equipment that is being developed to search for life on Mars, researchers found a complex microbial community living in blue ice vents inside a frozen Norwegian volcano. The region has geology similar to that of Mars.
The Arctic Mars Svalbard Expedition (AMASE), led by Hans Amundsen of the University of Oslo, found both living and fossil organisms. The AMASE scientists found signatures of microorganisms and fossils embedded on the surfaces and cracks of rocks and embedded in the volcanos ice.
Andrew Steele, Carnegie Institution researcher and science leader of the project, said, Ice-filled volcanic vents, such as these, are likely to occur on Mars and may be a potential habitat for life there.
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