Chinese scientists find evidence for life on Mars  

中国科学家发现火星曾有生命证据：陨石有碳颗粒

A Martian meteorite. (File photo: Chinanews.com)

(ECNS) -- Scientists have found carbon grains in a Martian meteorite, providing "the most encouraging" evidence that life may have once existed on Mars, Guangming Daily reported.

The meteorite named Tissint was formed 600 million years ago and struck a desert in Morocco during 2011, said Lin Yangting, a researcher from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

By applying microprobes and laser spectroscopy, it was proven that the carbon grains found in Tissint are from Mars, and are organic matter related to life activity, the researcher explained.

Lin and colleagues published a thesis in Meteoritics and Planetary Science in September that suggested underground water existed in Mars about 200 million years ago. The authors assert that the organic matter they found in Tissint is pristine and is not terrestrial contamination.

Their research has focused on magmatic activities and the paleo-climate on Mars. Studying changes in these areas can tell us whether the climate was suitable for life.

Currently, over 120 Martian meteorites, formed between 4.4 billion years to 200 million years ago, have been found on earth.