NASA“毅力号”发现疑似生物标志物,【双语新闻】NASA毅力号在火星岩石中发现远古生命..

"Leopard spots" found on a rock on Mars contain the clearest signs yet that life once existed on the red planet, NASA has announced.

美国国家航空航天局（NASA）宣布，在火星上一块岩石上发现的“豹斑”包含迄今为止最清晰的迹象，表明这颗红色星球上曾经存在过生命。

The space agency said analysis of the unusual markings by the Perseverance rover has revealed they contain minerals that on Earth can be a byproduct of microbes.

该航天机构表示，“毅力号”火星车对这些不寻常痕迹的分析显示，它们所含的矿物质在地球上可能是微生物的副产物。

Scientists cant rule out that the spots were caused by natural geological processes.

科学家们不能排除这些斑点是由自然地质过程造成的可能性。

But Nicky Fox, associate director of NASAs science mission directorate, said after a year of "pressure testing" the evidence, it still points to a biological origin.

但NASA科学任务理事会副主任妮基·福克斯表示，在对证据进行了一年的“压力测试”后， 这些证据仍指向生物起源。

"This finding by our incredible Perseverance rover is the closest weve actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars," she said. "Were really excited about that.

“我们了不起的‘毅力号’火星车的这一发现，是我们真正接近发现火星古代生命的一次。”她说， “我们对此感到非常兴奋。”

"But its a signature, a leftover sign. Its not life itself."

“但这只是一个特征，一个残留的迹象。 它不是生命本身。”

The tantalising evidence was laid down in the rocks more than 3 billion years ago.

这一诱人的证据是在30多亿年前就已沉积在岩石中的。

At the time Mars was covered in lakes, rivers and perhaps even oceans. The surface water vaporised into space when the planet lost its atmosphere long ago.

当时，火星上遍布湖泊、河流，甚至可能还有海洋。 很久以前，当这颗行星失去大气层时，地表水蒸发到了太空中。

The Perseverance rover has been exploring an ancient river delta in the Jezero Crater since it landed in February 2021.

自2021年2月着陆以来，“毅力号”火星车一直在杰泽罗陨石坑内的一个古老河口三角洲进行探索。

The 3m-long robot has been taking detailed images of the surface, collecting rock samples and analysing material with onboard instruments.

这个3米长的机器人一直在对火星表面进行详细成像，采集岩石样本，并利用机载仪器分析物质。

In July last year it came across a rock NASA named Cheyava Falls that lay in a canyon once carved out by water.

去年7月，它发现了一块被NASA命名为“奇亚瓦瀑布”的岩石，它位于一条曾被水冲刷出的峡谷中。

Comprehensive analysis of the leopard spot-like markings on the rock, and others that resemble tiny black poppy seeds, has revealed minerals containing iron, phosphorus and sulphur.

对这块岩石上类似豹斑的痕迹以及其他类似微小黑罂粟籽的痕迹进行的全面分析显示， 其中含有含铁、磷和硫的矿物质。

Evidence points to these being caused by chemical processes associated with microbial life.

有证据表明，这些痕迹是由与微生物生命相关的化学过程造成的。

The only way of being sure is to bring the samples back to Earth.

唯一能确定的方法就是将这些样本带回地球。

But Donald Trumps cuts to NASAs budget have forced a rethink of its plans to launch a joint retrieval mission with the European Space Agency.

但唐纳德·特朗普对NASA预算的削减迫使该机构重新考虑与欧洲航天局联合开展取回任务的计划。

Sean Duffy, the acting NASA chief, said: "Ive been given an ask for spending a little less money. I think we can do that. I know we can do that.

NASA代理局长肖恩·达菲表示：“我接到指示，要求少花一点钱。 我认为我们可以做到。 我知道我们可以做到。

"But Ive told the team at NASA, if we dont have the resources for the right missions or the right people, I will go to the president, Ill go to Congress, Ill ask for more money.

“但我已经告诉NASA的团队，如果我们没有足够的资源来开展正确的任务或配备合适的人员，我会去找总统， 我会去找国会，我会要求更多的资金。”

"But I feel pretty confident that with the money that weve been given, in the presidents budget, we can accomplish our mission."

“但我对凭借总统预算中给我们的资金能够完成任务充满信心。”

If further scientific analysis does confirm microbes once existed on Mars, then well know life on Earth isnt unique.

如果进一步的科学分析确实证实火星上曾经存在过微生物，那么我们就将知道地球上的生命并非独一无二。

According to NASA every star in the night sky has an average of one planet orbiting around it.

据NASA称，夜空中的每颗恒星平均都有一颗行星绕其运行。

And with the right conditions, some could also be home to life. Perhaps even intelligent alien life.

在条件适宜的情况下，有些行星上也可能存在生命。 甚至可能存在有智慧的外星生命。

素材来源：iYuba

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