Toxin Found In Mars Soil, Could Kill Hope To Find Life On Planet

August 5, 2008

New York (ChattahBox) - According to reports, a soil sample taken by the Phoenix Mars lander has revealed that a a toxic chemical is present in the soili on Mars. The belief is that this could kill any hope of finding any evidence of life on the red planet.

The Phoenix Mars lander found that the soil on Mars contains the toxic chemical known as perchlorate, often used in solid rocket fuel.

The task for researchers now is to continue to run soil tests to see if they can continue to find the toxic chemical to be present in all soil samples.

They are still unsure as to how the chemical is formed there, as the possibility is there that the Phoenix could have brought the chemical to Mars from Earth.

Just last week, NASA extended the mission of the Phoenix Mars lander, and also announced the discovery of the first ice sample being taken.

Researchers are keeping up hope that they will find evidence of life on Mars.

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