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Science 29 July 1977:
Vol. 197. no. 4302, pp. 455 - 457
DOI: 10.1126/science.197.4302.455
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Articles

Possible Surface Reactions on Mars: Implications for Viking Biology Results

CYRIL PONNAMPERUMA 1, AKIRA SHIMOYAMA 1, MASAAKI YAMADA 1, TOSHIYUKI HOBO 1, and RAMSAY PAL 1

1 Laboratory of Chemical Evolution, University of Maryland, College Park 20742

The results of two of the three biology experiments carried out on the Viking Mars landers have been simulated. The mixture of organic compounds labeled with carbon-14 used on Mars released carbon dioxide containing carbon-14 when reacted with a simulated martian surface and atmosphere exposed to ultraviolet light (labeled release experiment). Oxygen was released when metal peroxides or superoxides were treated with water (gas exchange experiment). The simulations suggest that the results of these two Viking experiments can be explained on the basis of reactions of the martian surface and atmosphere.

Submitted on December 29, 1976
Revised on February 25, 1977

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)