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The need for large sample numbers to demonstrate that Martian environments are lifeless

Nature Astronomy volume 8, pages 1493–1495 (2024)Cite this article

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The sample numbers required to achieve a 95% confidence, with high precision, that Martian environments are lifeless can exceed many hundreds. This might not be achievable by sample return only and might require human explorers.

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Fig. 1: Determining the lifelessness of Mars.

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Acknowledgements

M.d.C. acknowledges the Royal Society of Edinburgh (grant 13735861) and the FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) (grants UIDB/04106/2020 and UIDP/04106/2020). C.S.C. acknowledges the Science and Technology Facilities Council (grant ST/Y001788/1). S.McM. acknowledges the Leverhulme Trust Research Project (grant RPG-2021-274).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mathematics and Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Vanda Inácio & Miguel de Carvalho

  2. Department of Mathematics & CIDMA, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Miguel de Carvalho

  3. UK Centre for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Olivia Jackson, Sean McMahon & Charles S. Cockell

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  1. Vanda Inácio
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  2. Miguel de Carvalho
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  3. Olivia Jackson
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  4. Sean McMahon
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  5. Charles S. Cockell
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Correspondence to Charles S. Cockell.

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Inácio, V., de Carvalho, M., Jackson, O. et al. The need for large sample numbers to demonstrate that Martian environments are lifeless. Nat Astron 8, 1493–1495 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-024-02443-0

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