BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Martian soil 'could support life'

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Martian soil 'could support life': "Martian soil appears to contain sufficient nutrients to support life - or, at least, asparagus - Nasa scientists believe.

Preliminary analysis by the $420m (£210m) Phoenix Mars Lander mission on the planet's soil found it to be much more alkaline than expected.

Scientists working on the spacecraft project said they were 'flabbergasted' by the discovery.

The find has raised hopes conditions on Mars may be favourable for life.

'We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life, whether past, present or future,' said Sam Kounaves, the project's lead chemist, from the University of Arizona."