火星生命研究的进展与前景

PROGRESS IN STUDIES OF MARTIAN LIFE

关于火星是否存在或曾经存在生命的争论由来已久。有人以ALH84 0 0 1火星陨石新鲜破裂面上的大量碳酸盐小球体和多环芳香烃 (PAHs)为主要依据 ,推论火星至少在 13～ 36亿aBP前很可能有生命形态存在。然而 ,很多人认为ALH 84 0 0 1陨石的各种特性可以是非生物成因的。由于地球上的生物在超过 115℃的温度下很难存活 (火星可与之类比 ) ,争论的焦点逐渐集中在碳酸盐球体的形成温度上。也有研究者关注该陨石上有机物质的来源问题。对ALH84 0 0 1陨石的综合学科研究提出了互相矛盾的证据。综述了自 1996年以来在国外各种主要期刊上发表的关于ALH84 0 0 1陨石与火星生命的研究成果 (也包括了一些对其他火星陨石的研究 ) ,认为目前尚不能断言火星生命存在与否。对火星继续深入探索以获取进一步的证据是十分必要的。以美国国家航空和宇航局 (NASA)

The controversy over life past on Mars, or perhaps present, has being gone for a long time. Someone concluded that some forms of life must have been on Mars at least 1.3 to 3.6 billion years before. This was based on the large quantities of carbonate globules and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) found in ALH84001 mteorite. But many people ascribe all characters in ALH84001 to abiological origins. The focus of discussions gradually concentrates on the temperature at which the carbonate globules formed, since there is little chance that lives on the Earth can survive temperature above 115℃(Mars could be analogized). There are also researchers who concern the origin of organism in the meteorite. Multi subject studies have given contradictive interpretations. This article summarizes the research results on ALH84001 meteorite and Martian life which have been published in many major international journals since 1996(some studies on other meteorites also included), considering that it is impossible to conclude whether there was Martian life or not. Keeping on explorating Mars thoroughly to get more proofs is highly necessary. The Mars exploration plans beginning with NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey will inspire a second upsurge on Martian life study.