Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

NO-HEADLINE

Thursday 08 August 1996 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Claims that evidence of life on Mars has been found by Nasa scientists were doubted yesterday by Belgian Nobel Prize-winning biologist Christian de Duve, an expert on life in the Universe, who said he has "serious reservations" about them. "The evidence as presented by the scientists at a news conference is far from conclusive," he said. "The chemical evidence mentioned ... has been found before on other meteorites and never been used to claim that it is evidence of life. Just because organic substances were found on a meteorite that is supposed to have come from Mars does not mean they were formed on Mars by living organisms," he said.

"It is interesting. It is important. It is intriguing. But it is far from conclusive." Mr de Duve said. "The scientists were very cautious in saying that there could be other interpretations. But they did participate in the show which was obviously stage-managed by Nasa ... Would this have happened if this was not an election year in the US?" Charles Arthur

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in