If there's life on Mars, it may survive cooking

Scientists were pleasantly but 'totally' surprised when they found DNA on the outside of a spaceship survived a journey to space and back -even after exposure to re-entry temperatures as high as 1000 degrees Celsius (1832 degrees Fahrenheit). It's exciting because it could mean any Alien DNA a spaceship might pick up somewhere, could be detected on return to earth. Or, as Cora Thiel and Oliver Ullrich from University of Zurich (the scientists who carried out the experiment) say:

'The experiment could be the basis for "a model for nucleic acids that could serve as biomarkers in the search for past or present extraterrestrial life."

..which sounds more scientific than my explanation, but less exciting. :)

The experiment was carried out on the TEXUS-49 rocket mission back in 2011, but the study was only published yesterday. There is a little bit of a downside though; 'The scientists say the results raise concerns about contaminating space crafts, landers and landing sites with DNA from Earth.'

They don't say anything about concerns Alien DNA might be brought back and contaminate earth, but I guess that's because as scientists, it would make their day to get a hold of some.

Do read the article at the link for a more technical report about the findings.

http://www.france24.com/en/20141127-...al-space-back/

Photo link: http://www.siliconbeat.com/2013/05/3...oon-see-light/
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