We will probably never know for sure whether life started on Mars until we
A) develop better techniques to study Martian meteroites
B) can study rocks on Mars itself or return a sample to Earth for analysis
C) find a Martian meteorite containing amino acids
D) find another meteorite exactly like ALH84001

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Currently, the only way to definitively determine if life ever existed on Mars is through the study of samples from Mars itself. This can be accomplished through the use of rovers and landers to collect rock samples and analyze them on site, or through the return of samples to Earth for analysis. Studying Martian meteorites can provide some clues, but the evidence is often ambiguous and difficult to interpret. Amino acids found in a Martian meteorite would not definitively prove the existence of past or present life on Mars, as they can also form through non-biological processes. Finally, finding another meteorite like ALH84001 would not necessarily provide more conclusive evidence for life on Mars, as the interpretation of the evidence from that meteorite is still debated among scientists.

We Will Probably Never Know for Sure Whether Life Started