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NASA To Spring A Martian Surprise On Thursday. Has Life Been Found On Red Planet?

By Peter R | Update Date: Nov 05, 2015 10:59 AM EST

After indicating presence of water on Mars, NASA is set to make another major announcement on Thursday.

CTV News reported that the space agency called for a press conference without revealing details but mentioned that it is about the fate of Mars' atmosphere. The speculation is that NASA could reveal findings pertaining to loss of life-sustaining atmosphere on the red planet. NASA mentioned that experts of the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) will address the gathering.

Mars' atmosphere could have been dense in the past which could have helped the planet sustain large bodies of water as on Earth. This in turn could have supported life. Present day Mars however has a thin atmosphere, penetrated by deadly solar radiation which makes the planet unsuitable for human life.

According to The Telegraph, the press conference could explain several things including the readings of Methane that were made by Curiosity on Mars. Methane is released by living organisms. Curiosity recorded methane consistently over 60 Martian days, which led to the belief that there could be microorganisms releasing methane.

"NASA will provide details of key science findings from the agency's ongoing exploration of Mars during a news briefing at 2 p.m. EST on Thursday, Nov. 5 in the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington," a press release said.

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