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\f0\fs24 \cf0 (Image Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)\ \
\ BY CANDICE AVILES\
Life on Mars? You better believe it. NASA announced it discovered elements to support
ancient life on the red planet.\ \
\'93They found carbon dioxide, they found oxygen, they found water, they found sulfate,
they found things that only could happen if it\'92s wet.\'94 (Via CNN)\
\ NASA\'92s Curiosity rover found those elements
while it tested a rock sample. The rock sample came from a site a few hundred yards away
from an ancient streambed discovered back in September of 2012. \'93Scientists were
surprised to find a mixture of oxidized, less-oxidized, and even non-oxidized chemicals, providing
an energy gradient of the sort many microbes on Earth exploit to live.\'94\
\ Curiosity has been on Mars for a little less
than a year, collecting samples and other data from the planet. But this recent discovery
answered the question we\'92ve always wanted an answer for. (Via Space.com)\
\ \'93Michael Mayor, lead scientist for NASA\'92s
Mars exploration program said quote, \'91A fundamental question for this mission is whether
Mars could have supported a habitable environment. From what we know now, the answer is yes.\'94
(Via Fox News)\ \
This discovery also comes with the understanding that life on the planet happened billions
of years ago. CNET points out a couple of other clues indicating the success of life.
\'93The presence of clay as well as the absence of \'91abundant salt\'92 point to the likely
existence of an ancient environment where there was fresh water.\'94\
\ But questions still remain about what caused
the water and potential life on the planet to go away. NASA says it has more exploring
to do.\ }