Scientists claiming Martian life evidence fight back

Evidence of life on Mars after all? Maybe.

Thirteen years ago, a team of scientists who examined a meteorite from Mars concluded that it contained evidence of ancient Martian life. This was a big story, on the cover of the news weeklies and the lead story on the evening newscasts…back when that was the big place people went to for news.

Scientists agree that the meteorite, discovered in Antarctica in 1984, and called “Allan Hills 84001″ is indeed from Mars. But…

Not long after the dramatic announcement of David McKay and his team, other scientists cast doubt—serious doubt—on that claim. There was a simplier, non-biological explanation for the formations found in the meteorite, they said. And the story disappeared for more than a decade.

Now, it’s back. McKay and his team now claim they have disproved the counter-evidence; the non-biological explanations don’t hold water. They came to this conclusion using newer technology for a more detailed view of the meteorite.

Will the Mars life case win—for real—this time? I’m waiting for the response from skeptics. After all, claiming you’ve proved there was life on Mars is a BIG claim. Maybe it’s true; but we need time and research to rule out other possibilities.