Scientists reveal life on Earth 'may have begun' on Mars

FLORENCE

This self-portrait of NASA's Mars Curiosity rover is shown in this NASA handout composite image released May 30, 2013. REUTERS/NASA/Handout via Reuters

Growing evidence is suggesting that life on Earth may have actually begun on Mars, the Independent reported yesterday.

Scientists gathered at the Goldschmidt meeting in Florence were told that the planet would have been a more suitable place for biological life to form in than the conditions of early Earth.

An element believed to be crucial to the origin of life would only have been available on the surface of the Red Planet, it is claimed.

Geochemist Professor Steven Benner outlined his theory that the “seeds” of life probably arrived on Earth in meteorites blasted off Mars by impacts or volcanic eruptions. All living things are made from organic matter, but simply adding energy to organic molecules will not create life. Instead, left to themselves, organic molecules become something more like tar or asphalt, said Prof Benner told the conference.

He said the evidence was building that humans are in fact all martians and that “life started on Mars and came to Earth on a rock.” “It’s lucky that we ended up here nevertheless, as certainly Earth has been the better of the two planets for sustaining life. If our hypothetical Martian ancestors had remained on Mars, there might not have been a story to tell.”