August 21, 1996: Possible life on Mars - Harold Levison

Dr. Harold Levison, a senior research fellow at the Southwest Research Institute, brings scientific rigor to the explosive news that a Martian meteorite may contain evidence of ancient life. Levison walks Art Bell through the chemical fingerprinting that links the rock definitively to Mars and explains why its carbon signature deviates from other Martian meteorites in ways consistent with biological processes.

The discussion explores how a massive impact blasted the rock from Mars roughly 16 million years ago, sending it on a long journey through space before crashing into Antarctica. Levison raises the tantalizing speculation that Mars and Earth may have been swapping microbial material for billions of years, meaning life on Earth could have Martian origins. He also addresses Europa, calling it the most likely place in the solar system to find life, with its probable liquid ocean heated by Jupiter's tidal forces.

Levison balances excitement with characteristic scientific caution, noting that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. He emphasizes that three Mars missions launching later that year could dramatically advance understanding, while acknowledging that even the Cydonia formations will be re-imaged by the Mars Global Surveyor.