Posted: Sat, Apr 6, 2002, 10:39 AM ET (1539 GMT)
Scientists have reportedly found traces of chlorophyll on the Martian surface in Mars Pathfinder data, but another report says the findings are "overstated". The BBC reported Friday that scientists applying an automated computer algorithm to Mars Pathfinder data have detected several traces of what could be chlorophyll on the Martian surface around the landing site. Carol Stoker, the NASA Ames researcher who led the study, said the findings were intriguing but "not ready for the big time." However, a NASA spokesperson told SPACE.com that the results were overstated, and that Stoker and colleagues had not yet found any evidence of chlorophyll or life on Mars. The unnamed spokesperson added that the BBC "read more into the abstract than is really there." Stoker is scheduled to present her research at an astrobiology conference at NASA Ames next week.

Related Links:

•  BBC article
•  SPACE.com article
•  CNN article
•  Abstract of Stoker's research for astrobiology conference