Kathleen Burton May 31, 2002 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Phone: 650/604-1731 or 604-9000 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RELEASE: 02-68AR NOTE TO EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: You are invited to attend the "Magnetite on Mars" meeting on June 4 and 5, to be held in the Space Sciences Auditorium, Building N245, at NASA Ames Research Center. Research experts from around the world will gather to discuss whether the magnetite, a mineral common to both Earth and Mars, is of biological or non-biological origin in the Mars meteorite ALH84001. To reach Ames, take the Moffett Field exit off Highway 101 and drive east to the main gate. Members of the news media must present a driver's license or valid government-issued photo I.D. and press credentials at the NASA Ames main gate, where they will be issued a visitor badge and directed to Building N245. All foreign news media must have clearance prior to the meeting, bring a passport and press credentials, and will be escorted at all times. NASA AMES TO HOST 'MAGNETITE ON MARS' MEETING Researchers from around the world will convene at a 'Magnetite on Mars' meeting on June 4 and 5 to review recent findings that support or refute the biological origin of magnetite crystals in the ALH84001 Mars meteorite. The meeting will be held in the Space Sciences Auditorium, Building N245, at NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. Scientists will examine the potential consequences of magnetic bacteria on early Mars and consider whether the magnetic environment necessary for the existence of the magnetite mineral was present on Mars 3.9 billion years ago. They also will discuss whether magnetite's presence on early Mars can give us important clues about the planet's current environment. Scientists from the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany and Spain will present more than 20 papers during 20-minute talks. "We have to go beyond the current controversy over whether the magnetite in the Mars meteorite is of biological or non-biological origin, and consider what the implications are if the hypothesis is true," said conference organizer Dr. Chris McKay of NASA Ames. "If it is true, the implications are that we may have to readjust the chronology of early life on Mars and even redesign future Mars missions." The June 4 session begins at 8:15 a.m. PDT. Session I, chaired by McKay, will discuss: "Is the magnetite of non-biological or biological origin?" Session II, which begins at 2 p.m. PDT, will discuss "Does magnetite on Earth provide insight into the biogenic magnetite on Mars?" and is chaired by Dr. Ken Nealson of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and the University of Southern California. Session II, titled "Could magnetotaxis have developed on Mars?" begins at 9 a.m. PDT on June 5 and is chaired by Dr. Richard Frankel of the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Magnetotaxis is the orientation of magnetic bacteria along a magnetic heading, like a compass. There will be a media interview opportunity from noon to 12:45 p.m. PDT on June 5 in Conference Room 141 in Building 245, featuring McKay, Nealson, Dr. David McKay of NASA Johnson Space Center, Dr. Imre Friedmann of Ames, Dr. Joseph Kirschvink of the California Institute of Technology, and others. Between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. PDT, a closing panel will sum up the workshop findings. A meeting agenda is posted on the Internet at: http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/pages/pubnot.html Media representatives planning to attend should pre-register by contacting Kathleen Burton in the NASA Ames Media and Community Relations Office. NASA Ames is the agency's lead center for astrobiology, the search for the origin, evolution, distribution and future of life in the universe, and the location of the central offices of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, an international research consortium. Information about NASA's astrobiology programs may be obtained at: http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov and http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/ -end- ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
