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New theory addresses frozen Earth paradox
LONDON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Life could not exist on the surface of Mars because the planet has been in a "super-drought" lasting 600 million years, British researchers say.
Scientists at Imperial College London said they based that assertion on analysis of data on Martian soil transmitted back to Earth from the 2008 NASA Phoenix mission
Their three-year analysis suggests the Martian surface has been dry for such a long time any possible life would have to be deep underground, The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.
Soil on Mars is formed under arid conditions similar to those on the Moon, the researchers said.
The sample was taken from Mars' icy northern arctic region.
"We found that even though there is an abundance of ice, Mars has been experiencing a super-drought that may well have lasted hundreds of millions of years," research leader Tom Pike said.
"Future NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) missions that are planned for Mars will have to dig deeper to search for evidence of life, which may still be taking refuge underground."
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MONTREAL, June 1 (UPI) --
Police in Montreal Friday identified a man who was killed and dismembered as a Chinese university student and said the suspect in the case may be in France.
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NEW YORK, June 1 (UPI) --
U.S. author Lauren Weisberger is working on a sequel to her 2003 blockbuster novel, "The Devil Wears Prada," EW.com reported.
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HOUSTON, June 1 (UPI) --
The silhouette created as Venus transits the face of the sun Tuesday will be widely visible across seven continents, U.S. space officials said.
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Employees at a Florida grocery store restrained a Cuban sandwich thief by sitting on him until authorities arrived, police say.
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