A Martian meteorite, an incredibly rare object, has been given to science to help unravel the Red Planet's secrets.
Researchers will look for minerals formed in the presence of water, and for any signs of organics - carbon-rich molecules.
Energy, water, a source of carbon are the prerequisites for
life as we know it. Finding evidence for any of these phenomena in
Tissint tells scientists something about how habitable Mars might have
been in the past.
"It's a messenger from Mars," said Prof Andrew Coates from
the UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory. "It allows you to look back at
the history of Mars and its formation. It's a history lesson on what
Mars' atmosphere was like years ago - could there ever have been the
right conditions for life?"
To read the whole article: Rare Martian meteorite given to science
