Mars Analogs on Earth: Putative Habitats on Mars? Lectures from Extremophiles

A Possible Biogenic Origin for Hydrogen Peroxide on Mars: The Viking Results Reinterpreted

The adaptability of extremophiles on Earth raises the question of what strategies putative life might have used to adapt to the present conditions on Mars. Here, we hypothesize that organisms might utilize a water-hydrogen peroxide (H2O-H2O2) mixture rather than water as an intracellular liquid. This adaptation would have the particular advantages in the Martian environment of providing a low f...

The Mojave Desert: a Martian Analog Site for Future Astrobiology

Introduction: Astrobiological interest in Mars is highlighted by evidence that Mars was once warm enough to have liquid water present on its surface long enough to create geologic formations that could only exist in the presense of extended fluvial periods. These periods existed at the same time life on Earth arose. If life began on Mars as well during this period, it is reasonable to assume it...

A Perchlorate Strategy for Extreme Xerophilic Life on Mars?

The near-surface environment of Mars is a challenging environment for microorganisms to survive. Yet, resources such as perchlorates and hydrogen peroxide-water mixtures are available that could provide supportive tools for putative Martian life. Here, we focus on the useful properties of perchlorates such as hygroscopicity and the suppression of the freezing point of water, and point to perchl...

Raman spectroscopy meets extremophiles on Earth and Mars: studies for successful search of life.

Influence of Gravity on the Geometry of Martian Normal Faults

Introduction: Extensional fault scarps on Mars bear a striking resemblance to fault scarps on Earth, including geometric features such as horsts, grabens, relay ramps and breached relay ramps, en echelon arrangement of faults and grabens, and scaling characteristics [1], [2], [3]. Other surface features associated with extensional faulting on Mars are lines (" chains ") of circular topo-graphic...