Note that we see a lot of complex polyaromatic hydrocarbons in interstellar dust across the galaxy. And we know these can sometimes have quite long alkane chains attached or "inside". I don't think we can rule out stuff like that decomposing at those GC/MS conditions and giving the same signal. And that's even before the leap to fatty acids which may or may not have a biological origin.
There is sufficient circumstantial evidence for bacterial life on Mars.
The (perhaps religiously) conservative science establishment refuses to conclusively accept it.
When a robotic mission is sent to Mars with the express purpose of finding current life, then it will become obvious that hardened bacteria spores not only survive in our solar system's space, but thrive in the most difficult environments. And what about that stuff growing outside the international space station?
The question about why certain bacteria on earth are very resistant to the sun's harmful radiation is waiting to be solved.
The threat to some of the world's religions is the hypothesis that the simplest life did not originate on this planet first. So what?
Eh, religions have to dispel a dozen graver epistemic threats than that before breakfast every morning. If and when evidence of extraterrestrial life is found, religious people will adapt their beliefs to accommodate it and retcon it, just like they always have.
It's what they've done, very successfully, ever since they had to stop burning heretics at the stake.
semi-extrinsic|11 months ago
TheSpiceIsLife|11 months ago
augusto-moura|11 months ago
Maybe if research gets more investment we could get there faster
tim333|11 months ago
symbolicAGI|11 months ago
The (perhaps religiously) conservative science establishment refuses to conclusively accept it.
When a robotic mission is sent to Mars with the express purpose of finding current life, then it will become obvious that hardened bacteria spores not only survive in our solar system's space, but thrive in the most difficult environments. And what about that stuff growing outside the international space station?
The question about why certain bacteria on earth are very resistant to the sun's harmful radiation is waiting to be solved.
The threat to some of the world's religions is the hypothesis that the simplest life did not originate on this planet first. So what?
CamperBob2|11 months ago
It's what they've done, very successfully, ever since they had to stop burning heretics at the stake.