Tech
Toxic nature of Martian soil makes it hard to support life on Mars, scientists say
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have found evidence of potentially toxic Martian soil.
Lab testing shows how certain chemicals found on Martian soil quickly kills organic life when activated by ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Scientists had investigated the behavior of the chemical compound with regards to its reaction to organic life when activated by ultraviolet radiation.
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The compound in question is called perchlorate, which can also be found on Earth deserts but in lesser concentrations such as in the Atacama Desert. Perchlorate was initially discovered on Martian soil by the Phoenix Lander mission in 2008, and is now the focus of the current study.
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