Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

Lifeless Martian samples and their significance

Nature Astronomy volume 3, pages 468–470 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Although a major objective in Mars exploration is the search for life, there are many scenarios that could lead to the recovery of lifeless samples. What could lifeless samples tell us about Mars and its habitability?

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Scenarios leading to the recovery of lifeless samples from Mars.

References

  1. Fairén, A. G. et al. Astrobiology 10, 821–843 (2010).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ehlmann, B. et al. Nature 479, 53–60 (2011).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lasue, J. et al. Space Sci. Rev. 174, 155–212 (2013).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Grotzinger, J. P. et al. Science 343, 1242777 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hurowitz, J. A. et al. Science 356, 6341 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Stoker, C. R. et al. J. Geophys. Res. 115, E00E20 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lakdawalla, E. Nat. Astron. 3, 190–192 (2019).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Orosei, R. et al. Science 361, 490–493 (2018).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Martin-Torres, F. J. et al. Nat. Geosci. 8, 357–361 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Cockell, C. S. Trends Ecol. Evol. 26, 73–80 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Martin, W., Baross, J., Kelley, D. & Russell, M. J. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 6, 805–814 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Clark, B. C. Orig. Life Evol. Biosph. 31, 185–197 (2001).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Mileikowsky, C. et al. Icarus 145, 391–427 (2000).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Michalski, J. R. et al. Nat. Geosci. 11, 21–26 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Jakosky, B. M., Grebowsky, J. M., Luhmann, J. G. & Brain, D. A. Geophys. Res. Lett. 42, 8791–8802 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Jakosky, B. M. & Shock, E. L. J. Geophys. Res. 103, 19359–19364 (1998).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Grotzinger, J. P. Science 343, 386–387 (2014).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Westall, F. et al. Astrobiology 15, 998–1029 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. McMahon, S. et al. J. Geophys. Res. 123, 1012–1040 (2018).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. McKay, D. S. et al. Science 273, 924–930 (1996).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Staudigel, H. et al. Earth Sci. Rev. 89, 156–176 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wacey, D., Battison, L., Garwood, R. J., Hickman-Lewis, K. & Brasier, M. D. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ. 448, 81–104 (2017).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

C.S.C. acknowledges support from Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) grant ST/R000875/1. S.M. acknowledges support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement 747877.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Charles S. Cockell & Sean McMahon

Authors
  1. Charles S. Cockell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sean McMahon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles S. Cockell.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cockell, C.S., McMahon, S. Lifeless Martian samples and their significance. Nat Astron 3, 468–470 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-019-0777-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-019-0777-0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing