Astroboffins reckon evidence of Martian life has probably been destroyed where liquid acid flowed on the Red Planet

Evidence of ancient microbial life in Martian soil will not be easy to find, and some of it may have been destroyed by the flow of liquid acid, according to research published in Scientific Reports. The idea of life on Mars has tantalized astronomers for hundreds of years. Although no concrete proof of extraterrestrial life …

[Pascal Monett]

So there's no problem then ?

Okay, where acid flowed biosignatures are destroyed in the clay, understood.

But Perseverance is not landing in a acid-washed clay basin, so everything is good then ? If there are signs of life to be found, Perseverance might find them.

Do I need to use this as another reason to panic ? Because I have enough of those at this point in time.

[Anonymous Coward]

Two microphones

If we can *hear* the life talking, that will be impressive. Especially in stereo.

[Wellyboot]

Re: Two microphones

Hopefully it doesn't hear something similar to "Insert the Illudium Q​-36 Explosive Space Modulator..."

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: If we can *hear* the life talking, that will be impressive.

I await with great eagerness a recording of the Martian equivalent of the "Four Yorkshireman" sketch...

[sitta_europea]

"Perseverance is ... the heaviest trundlebot yet ..."

I do hope they don't have sinkholes on Mars.

[Eclectic Man]

Ah, well, actually ...

APOD, 1st march 2020, a Hole in Mars:

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200301.html

But it is a little one, only about 20m deep.

Fingers crossed.

[JCitizen]

What!? No drill?

I was hoping we'd see more better drilling this time; maybe strike oil er sumpin'!

[Brian 3]

He is completely full of it! Just because the acidic fluid was carbonic acid, it's no longer acidic? Who is this jumping clown?

[Conundrum1885]

Aliens

Of course this assumes the life doesn't *like* acid.

Which wouldn't be unprecedented even on this planet.