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Sep 12, 2025 57 min

Science ROCKS On MARS!

from What The If? Hosted by Philip Shane, Matt Stanley, Gabrielle Paniccia

What the if you found a rock on Mars that might - emphasis on might - show signs of ancient life? NASA's Perseverance rover discovered intriguing leopard spots in a 3.5-billion-year-old rock that contain vivianite, a mineral that could potentially indicate biological activity, though scientists remain cautiously skeptical. These dark-outlined splotches bear some resemblance to patterns that microbes can leave behind, but resemblance isn't proof. Join our trio as they explore the painstaking scientific process of investigating possible signs of life from tens of millions of miles away using lasers, spectroscopes, and instruments cleverly named Sherlock and Watson. From "poppy seed" nodules to the methodical work of ruling out every conceivable non-biological explanation, discover why scientists are being extraordinarily careful about what could potentially be intriguing evidence - if it survives rigorous scrutiny. Based on "In a Rock on Mars, NASA Sees Clearest Sign of Life (So Far)" by Kenneth Chang, published in The New York Times on September 10, 2025 Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/science/mars-rock-nasa-perserverance.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lE8.UiKA.kl-1r33U-Pd9&smid=url-share --- Find out more about Gaby's science fiction short story! Here are the links for the anthology. The physical copy can be ordered here : https://www.neonhemlock.com/books/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention The ebook can be ordered here: https://www.neonhemlock.com/ebooks/luminescent-machinations-queer-tales-of-monumental-invention

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Science ROCKS On MARS!

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