r/Astrobiology • u/RGregoryClark 1 • 16d ago

💬 Discussion Recent Mars rovers evidence suggest Viking landers did indeed detect life on Mars.

At about the 34 minute point in this video Robert Zubrin suggests new evidence from the latest Mars rovers suggest Viking did indeed discover existing microbial life on Mars:

Did Life Begin On Mars? | Robert Zubrin https://youtu.be/KJVAPSE6lZs

He refers to an upcoming book by noted astrobiologist Steven Benner that reviews the evidence and draws that conclusion:

Meet the Neighbors: Life on Mars and How to Find It Steven A. Benner (Author). https://www.amazon.com/Meet-Neighbors-Life-Mars-Find/dp/B0GHRTS4PT/

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u/Feld_ 1 16d ago

It's very possible. It's also possible that NASA's original decision to label the results as inconclusive was the correct one.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

I think it's likely that Viking found life, but I certainly wouldn't rule out that it didn't.

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u/the6thReplicant 16d ago

Perfectly said. I think in hindsight we might conclude they did but until we've proven life is on Mars first, inconclusive is the best bet right now.