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Did Viking Landers Accidentally Roast Martian microbes?
Astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch posits that NASA’s iconic Viking 1 mission, which touched down on Mars in July 1976, might have unintentionally vaporized potential Martian life by adding liquid water to hyperarid soil samples. With the Viking landers conducting life detection experiments under the assumption that Martian microbes crave H₂O, Schulze-Makuch humorously suggests they might have missed the mark, as life could thrive on hydrated salts instead. As we gear up for future missions in 2025, the focus is shifting to salt-loving microbes, ensuring we don’t repeat history while hunting for alien life.
