This Week in Space (Audio) TWiS 177: Life on Mars? - With Dr. Michael Tice
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Sep 12, 2025 Dr. Michael Tice, a planetary geologist from Texas A&M and co-author of a groundbreaking paper on Martian biosignatures, shares insights on the potential discovery of ancient life in Jezero Crater. He explains the significance of unusual 'leopard spots' and the rigorous process involved in analyzing Martian samples. The dialogue explores the debate over biological versus abiotic origins of these findings and the challenges of confirming life without returning samples to Earth. Tice also looks ahead to future Mars missions and the ongoing quest for extraterrestrial life.
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Career Pivot From Engineering To Mars Geology
- Michael Tice described switching from environmental engineering to geology after a college class sparked his interest.
- He later joined the PIXL team after a colleague invited him to apply X-ray spectroscopy to Mars.
Unexpected Chemistry Triggered Biosignature Thinking
- The team found unusual rocks in Neretva Vallis with compositions unlike anything seen before, prompting intense scrutiny.
- That compositional novelty led scientists to consider redox-driven processes as a potential biosignature.
Gasping Over Martian Magnesium-Iron Ratios
- The PIXL team caused audible gasps on mission calls when the unusual magnesium-to-iron ratios appeared.
- That visceral reaction signaled they were looking at genuinely novel Martian chemistry.