Ancient Martians were carried to Earth - Scientific American

Scientists have discovered compelling new evidence that life has existed on Mars and was brought to Earth in an ancient meteorite.

State-of-the-art instruments and techniques suggest that tiny fossils in the rock found in Antarctica are microscopic aliens and not produced by other effects.

The meteorite found in the Antarctic's deep freeze is called Allan Hills 84001. It hit the headlines 13 years ago in 1996 because of the peculiar fossils it appeared to contain.

NASA suggested then that it was ancient martian microbial life and President Clinton even went on TV to speak to the nation about the historic moment. However, the majority of scientists were unconvinced.

The meteorite, blasted out of the martian surface 16 million years ago, crashed to earth about 13,000 years ago and lay undetected in the icy desert.

Now a new report by NASA scientists at their Johnson Space Centre in Houston says there is powerful new chemical and fossil evidence that the meteorite does indeed contains microscopic martian microbes.

The new research uses more advanced high resolution electron microscopy than was possible 13 years ago. The scientists have examined carbonate discs and tiny magnetite crystals inside the space rock.

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