December 3 the conference of the American geophysical Union in San Francisco, NASA officials working with Curiosity Rover, will make, according to them, a very important statement. In one interview the project Manager John Grotzinger hinted that this may be the detection of organic molecules. However, commentators wishful thinking.

Curiosity: photo mosaic, created by Andrei Bodrov. The sky and the Sun finished. The size of the selected luminaries in accordance with the frame received by the Rover Spirit in 2005.

"These data will go into all the history books," said Mr., Grotzinger on National public radio. It was about the readings SAM, who along with other equipment Curiosity is intended for the analysis of samples of soil and search of organic material.

Usually discovery of organic substances on the surface is not considered proof of the existence of life, because these molecules are posted constantly throughout the Solar system by asteroids and comets. But in the case of Mars, even this could be a sensation, emphasizes a former employee of NASA Gilbert Levin, who took part in the "Viking".

Remind: no tool landers "Viking" has confirmed the discovery of active biological processes in the framework of the experiment Mr. Levin Labeled Release, which showed that radioactively labeled carbon from the nutrient solution, added to the soil sample was thrown into the air in the test chamber (evident sign of metabolism). But, despite the protests of Mr. Levin, the majority believes that "the Vikings" did not find evidence of life on Mars.

Mr. Levin acknowledges that after more than three decades of controversy about the true meaning of the results of the "Viking" the views of experts will not change overnight, no matter what evidence Curiosity. Although data on the presence of organic matter in the soil will remove all the arguments against the interpretation Mr. Levin is, in his words, hardly will change the paradigm.

Chris McKay of the Research center NASA them. Ames urges everyone to calm down. According to him, that he had found Curiosity, may be not so interesting, as suggested by the Internet rumors.

As for the "Viking", the expert indicates that in this case the non-detection of organic substances means nothing. Similar experiments carried out on samples from the Atacama desert (Chile), also gave nothing. Not to declare after that the Earth uninhabitable.

Prepared according to NewScientist.