FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Cynthia Medina, [email protected], 848-445-1940
New Sources of Oxygen May Exist in Martian Soil, Says Rutgers Expert
Newswise — New Brunswick, N.J. (Nov. 25, 2019) – New data gathered by NASA’s Curiosity rover reported levels of oxygen unexpectedly varied with the seasons on Mars. Rutgers astrobiologist Nathan Yee is available to discuss how this new information impacts the possibility of human exploration on the red planet.
“New data from NASA’s Curiosity rover indicates there might be some oxygen-forming chemicals absorbed in Martian soil that are behind fluctuations in oxygen levels throughout the seasons on Mars. If scientists can extract oxygen-forming chemicals in the Martian soil, then perhaps humans could use that as a source of oxygen to breathe and survive there – and, more importantly, use it to burn rocket fuel for the return trip to Earth,” said Yee. “More research on the sources of oxygen will be vital for the potential of future human exploration on the red planet.”
Yee, a professor of geomicrobiology and geochemistry at Rutgers–New Brunswick’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, is a co-investigator at Rutgers ENIGMA, a NASA-funded research team focused on discovering how proteins evolved to become the catalysts of life on Earth. He also co-created and teaches Rutgers’ first course on astrobiology.
He can be reached by contacting Cynthia Medina at [email protected]
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Broadcast interviews: Rutgers University–New Brunswick has broadcast-quality TV and radio studios available for remote live or taped interviews with Rutgers experts. For more information, contact Cynthia Medina [email protected]
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