The revision of the already previously obtained experimental data has led scientists to conclude that life on Mars not only exists in our days, but already was discovered 30 years ago. A new study confirms that the experiments "Viking" 30-year-old showed the presence of life on Mars, however, have been misinterpreted by the representatives of NASA.

The first experimental studies of samples of Martian soil to search microorganisms have been carried out by the research probes Viking 1 and Viking 2" in 1978 For this purpose on Board the probe was installed equipment, designed for 4 kinds of experiments.

All the experiments were carried out successfully, but their results were so unexpected that even now, 3 years later, interpreted mutually exclusive manner. However, recent discoveries made on Mars, are increasingly forced scientists instead of sacramental "is there life on Mars?" is to ask the question, "who is first opened it?"

Strange results "Viking"

Devices NASA's Viking 1 and Viking 2" (Viking 1,2) consisted of orbiting and landing modules. Viking 1 was launched from the spaceport at Cape Canaveral 20 August 1975, went into orbit around Mars on June 19, 1976; the Viking-2", respectively - 9 September 1975 and 7 August 1976. Lander probe Viking-1" has carried out a soft landing in the area of Chryse Planitia July 20, 1976, probe Viking-2" in area of Utopia Planitia on 3 September 1976. Orbital module of both ships were filming of Mars from orbit - in particular, the images were used for the control of the relief in the alleged landing landers. Before the last stood special tasks.

Landers were equipped with cameras to transmit images of the surface, seismographs, set of equipment to study the properties of the atmosphere of the red planet. However, the most valuable information scientists hoped to get the help of a set their 3 "biological" experiments - they had to answer the question of the existence of life on Mars. According to official information, NASA, biodetector registered "unexpected and mysterious" chemical activity of the Martian soil. However, definitive signs of life in accordance with the models used in the formulation and interpretation of experiments, were found. Mankind learned that Mars is a lifeless planet.

Mars: a new rush

The discouraging results of the "Viking"and cannot be any reasonable interpretation, obviously played a role in that explore Mars with the help of automatic stations have stopped for a long 2 decades. Only devices of the "new wave" started to detailed investigation of a neighboring planet, brought the shaft unexpected discoveries. On Mars was found water moreover, were discovered giant ice of the lake, the size of which allow us to consider them frozen oceans. Were found irrefutable evidence of erosion under the influence of liquid media. On the photos made in different periods identified very recent threads that have appeared in between shooting. This most likely indicates that "waterfalls" liquid water or water solutions exist on Mars and in our days.

Martian self-propelled probes Spirit and Opportunity have also brought a lot of wonderful discoveries. The discovery of minerals, the formation of which only occurs in water solutions, confirmed the presence of oceans on the red planet in the past. On the surface of Mars have been found the whole "Polyana" rounded formations and blue colors of unknown nature. The soil found filiform, spiral education and even something like moss.

In the atmosphere of Mars was detected methane - obviously, biogenic origin because of volcanic activity on Mars is not observed. Assessment of quantity allowed scientists to give a rough estimate of the total biomass methanogenic bacteria on Mars. All these discoveries have allowed to leading experts NASA statement - life on Mars, apparently, is in our days. This point of view, not become yet official, is a growing number of scientists. New facts have allowed to take a new look at the strange results, obtained by the Vikings.

"The Vikings": audit results

Dirk Schulze-Makuch (Dirk Schulze-Makuch) from the University of Washington and Jup, Houtkooper (Joop Houtkooper) from the University of Justus Libera (, Hessen, Germany) reviewed the results of 30 years ago Martian automatic probes Viking 1 and Viking 2", and confirmed already informally expressed by experts NASA opinion that there is life on Mars today.

Scientists have advanced the hypothesis that on Mars there is a life in the form of the simplest microorganisms living in a mixture of water and peroxide vidrada (H2O2). Freezing point similar fluid may be about minus 56,5o Celsius, even if it crystallization of the liquid which destroy cells, is not observed. In addition, the hydrogen peroxide is hygroscopic, which allows hypothetical Martian organisms "get" water vapor from the rarefied atmosphere of the red planet. According to scientists, hydrogen peroxide, usually used for disinfection, it is compatible with biological processes. Moreover, some living in soil microbes able to exist in an environment with a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, it is produced in the bodies of insects as a protective measure.

When preparing myexperiment for "Viking" discoverable "perekisnogo" organisms in the not undertook research in this area was carried out in the 90 years of the twentieth century. However, the hypothesis about the presence on Mars microorganisms living in an environment with a high content of hydrogen peroxide, is able to explain satisfactorily almost all the contradictory results of experiments conducted on the "Vikings". So, oxidizing action of peroxide of hydrogen produced from dead cells, leads to a rapid decrease in the number of organic matter. This helps to explain the negative result obtained in experiments with gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer (GCMS). This is evidenced by a result obtained earlier by the group Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez (Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez) from the University of Mexico using a similar experiment he failed to secure the presence of the obviously existing living organisms in the soil samples taken in the coastal regions of Antarctica.

In experiments where soil samples were placed in a water medium, labeled with radioactive carbon, "the Vikings" has registered rapid "explosive" education CO2, which quickly stopped. Apparently, this can be explained by the rapid loss of peroxide" organisms caught up in "inadequate" for them the aquatic environment. Hypotheses about the death of microorganisms in the course of the experiment is shared by the head of the scientific program "Viking" Gilbert Levin (Gilbert Levin).

Conflicting results pyrolytic experiment in which the search of living organisms was carried out on transformation "tagged" radioactive CO2 in organic matter, also finds plausible explanation. In a series of pyrolytic of experiments conducted with different samples of soil, was registered significant variability. 3 the experiment from 7 was accompanied by a significant and another - much greater output of organic substances that, according to the methodology of the experiment would be to indicate in the samples of soil microorganisms. Other experiments have given a negative result. According to Dr. Schulze-Makuch, this could indicate a likely significant variation in the concentration of microorganisms on the surface of the planet. It is significant that just showed the worst results of the sample had previously been exposed to water.

Life on Mars: what's next?

The chance to test new hypotheses, scientists associated with probe Phoenix, the launch of which is scheduled for August 2007. Lander will land in the polar region, where relatively high partial pressure of water vapor in the atmosphere is unlike Equatorial latitudes, where landed "the Vikings". Scientific equipment of the probe will include 2 microscope that will allow us to study samples of Martian soil with high magnification.

However, if the discovery of life on Mars confirmed, before scientists will inevitably arise emerging issues that are beyond the narrow scientific disciplines. In what forms has been the evolution of Mars and had she any place at all? What is common between terrestrial and Martian life and what are the differences? What are the criteria of life and what is life? And most importantly - were there on Mars intelligent life?

The answer to the last question enthusiasts usually associated with the study of the nature and origin found on Mars multiple objects with a strange morphology found orbital stations - geometrically regular and symmetrical. The appearance in orbit around Mars devices of new generation, capable to transfer large amounts of images of very high resolution will allow us to start the systematic investigation of the "strange object" on the surface of Mars. As usual, the results of the research are unlikely to form the exalted optimists. However, the value and scope of future discoveries can't be diminished.<br />
Of course, the assumption about the presence on Mars traces of intelligent life" is nothing more than a very bold hypothesis contrary to our current views about the possibilities of evolution of living matter in such a hostile environment. However, experience of the interpretation of the data with the "Viking", the decades, shows how serious the consequences too one-sided interpretation of the most interesting results obtained spacecraft.