Nasa Plans To Protect Earth From Microbes From Mars

Rock samples that NASA plans to scoop up from Mars could contain live bacteria or viruses, and scientists are making elaborate plans to protect Earth from possible microbial Martians.

Several federal agencies are working together to design and build a high tech laboratory that will protect against a living Mars germ.

Such a germ might pose a risk of disease or infection for people, plants or animals when the Martian samples are returned in about 10 years.

“Samples from Mars should be considered hazardous until proven otherwise,” said Jonathan Y. Richmond, a biological containment expert.

“The risk is very small, but not zero,” said John D. Rummel, NASA’s planet protection officer. “We’re ignorant (about Mars) and what we’ve learned in biology is that when you are ignorant, be careful.”