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This includes the search for evidence of [[Planetary habitability|habitability]], [[taphonomy]] (related to [[fossils]]), and [[organic carbon]] on the planet [[Mars]].<ref name="SCI-20140124a" />
In July 2017, researchers reported that the surface on the planet Mars may be more toxic to [[microorganism]]s, especially a common terrestrial type, ''[[Bacillus subtilis]]'', than thought earlier. This is based on studies with [[perchlorates]], common on Mars, in a simulated Martian [[ultraviolet]] atmosphere.<ref name="SM-20170706">{{cite news |last=Daley |first=Jason |title=Mars Surface May Be Too Toxic for Microbial Life - The combination of UV radiation and perchlorates common on Mars could be deadly for bacteria |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mars-surface-may-be-toxic-bacteria-180963966/ |date=6 July 2017 |work=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |accessdate=8 July 2017 }}</ref><ref name="NAT-20170706">{{cite journal|last1=Wadsworth |first1=Jennifer |last2=Cockell |first2=Charles S. |title=Perchlorates on Mars enhance the bacteriocidal effects of UV light |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-04910-3 |date=6 July 2017 |work=[[Scientific Reports]] |volume=7 |number=4662 |doi=10.1038/s41598-017-04910-3 |accessdate=8 July 2017 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706185518/http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-04910-3 |archivedate=July 6, 2017 |bibcode = 2017NatSR...7.4662W }}</ref>
On September 5, 2017, scientists reported that the [[Curiosity (rover)|''Curiosity'' rover]] detected [[boron]], an essential ingredient for [[life]] on [[Earth]], on Mars. Such a finding, along with previous discoveries that water may have been present on ancient Mars, further supports the possible early habitability of [[Gale (crater)|Gale Crater]] on Mars.<ref name="GPL-20170905">{{cite journal |author=Gasda, Patrick J. et al. |title=In situ detection of boron by ChemCam on Mars |url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2017GL074480/full |date=September 5, 2017 |journal=[[Geophysical Research Letters]] |doi=10.1002/2017GL074480 |accessdate=September 6, 2017 }}</ref><ref name="GZ-20170906">{{cite news |last=Paoletta |first=Rae |title=Curiosity Has Discovered Something That Raises More Questions About Life on Mars |url=https://gizmodo.com/curiosity-has-discovered-something-that-raises-more-que-1800879035 |date=September 6, 2017 |work=[[Gizmodo]] |accessdate=September 6, 2017 }}</ref>
== Early speculation ==
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