By Xinhua
Beijing : For years physicists have used the string theory in an attempt to provide a complete, unified, and consistent description of the fundamental structure of our universe. Now scientists think any plant-like microbes that existed on Mars a few billion years ago would have left behind a stringy fuzz of fibers.
Why? Because here on Earth, researchers say they have found such ancient fuzz, called cellulose, preserved in chunks of salt deposited more than 250 million years ago — making it the oldest biological substance yet recovered.
The announcement comes about a week after a team of planetary scientists announced discovering evaporated salt deposits on Mars and adds another element of hope to the search for alien life or signs of its past biology.
In fact, microscopic cellulose fibers might be one of the best signatures of any past life on the red planet, said Jack Griffith, a microbiologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“These fibers are the oldest native, intact remnants of a living thing ever directly observed,” Griffith told SPACE.com. “It’s extremely fortuitous timing, as we’ve just discovered salt deposits on Mars’ surface.”
If a future Mars-bound robotic explorer seeks out signs of ancient life, Griffith said looking for cellulose in salt deposits peppered south of the planet’s equator would be the best places to start.
“Cellulose was one of the earliest polymers organisms made during their evolution, so it pops out as the most likely thing you’d find on Mars, if you found anything at all,” Griffith said. “Looking for it in salt deposits is probably a very good way to go.”