Biomass of Martian Soil

This article gives a look into a finding made by a professor in Germany who has stated that the martian soil collected from NASA Viking landers may be of a biological orgin of organisms that have cells filled of hydrogen peroxide and water. The samples collected were analyized and found to have oxygen and carbon dioxide levels rise unexpectantly. If they were produced by the breakdown of organic material they can calculate the total biomass in the sample of the Martain soil.

It has been found that these hydrogen peroxide-water based organisms would be able to handle the cold harsh weather of Mars. Hydrogen peroxide has a freezing level of -55.6 degrees C. If these organisms were exposed to warm weather they would dehydrate.

This finding has caused a stir within the scientific community.