Abstract
Elongated, segmented forms found on fracture surfaces within the martian meteorite ALH84001 have been proposed to be martian ‘nanofossils’1, even though they appear too small to be fossilized bacteria2,3,4. We have examined similar forms and find that the majority are (non-biological) lamellar growth steps on pyroxene and carbonate crystals. Their segmented surface microstructures are laboratory artefacts resulting from the deposition of conductive heavy-metal coatings.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
McKay, D. S. et al. Science 273, 924–930 (1996).
Maniloff, J. Science 276, 1776(1997).
Nealson, K. H. Science 276, 1776(1997).
Psenner, R. & Loferer, M. Science 276, 1776–1777 (1997).
Bazylinski, D. A. ASM News 61, 337–340 (1975).
Bradley, J. P., Harvey, R. & McSween, H. Y. J Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 60, 475–481 (1996).
Folk, R. L. et al. J. Sedim. Res. 67, 583–587 (1997).
Kerr, R. A. Science 276, 30–31 (1997).
Harvey, R. P. & McSween, H. Y. J Nature 382, 49–51 (1996).
Scott, E. R. D., Yamaguchi, A. & Krot, A. N. Nature 387, 377–379 (1997).
Thomas-Keprta, K. L. et al. Lunar Planet. Sci. 28, 1433–1434 (1997).
Goldstein, J. I. & Yakowitz, H. (eds) Practical Scanning Electron Microscopy (Plenum, New York, 1975).
Brooks, C. R. & Bogni, F. Mater. Character. 38, 103–117 (1997).
Steele, A. et al. Lunar Planet. Sci. 28, 1369–1370 (1997).
Morrison, D. A. & Clanton, U. S. Proc. Lunar Planet. Sci. Conf. 10, 1649–1663 (1979).
Newbury, D. E., Joy, D. C., Echlin, P., Fiori, C. E. & Goldstein, J. I. in Advanced Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis (Plenum, New York, 1986).
Kajander, E. O., Kuronen, I., Åkerman, K., Pelttari, A. & Çiftçioglu, N. in Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. Vol. 3111 (ed. Hoover, R. B.) 420-428 (Int. Soc. Opt. Eng., Bellingham, WA 1997).
Çiftçioglu, N., Pelttari, A. & Kajander, E. O. in Proc. Soc. Photo-Opt. Instrum. Eng. Vol. 3111 (ed. Hoover, R. B.) 429-435 (Int. Soc. Opt. Eng., Bellingham, WA1997).
Kieft T. L. in Nonculturable Microorganisms in the Environment (eds Colwell, R. R. & Grimes, D. J.) (Chapman and Hall, New York, in the press).
Romanek, C. S. et al. Nature 372, 655–657 (1994).
Valley, J. W. et al. Science 275, 1633–1638 (1997).
Gleason, J. D., Kring, D. A., Hill, D. H. & Boynton, W. V. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 61, 3503–3512 (1997).
Hanzlik M., WinklhoferM. & Petersen N. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 145 125–134 (1996).
von Dobeneck T., PetersenN. & Vali H. Geowiss. Uns. Zeit 1, 27–35 (1987).
Westall, F. in Astronomical and Biochemical Origins and the Search for Life in the Universe (eds Cosmovici, C.B., Bowyer, S. & Werthimer, D.) 491-504 (Compositori Editrice, Bologna, 1997).
Westall F. Darmstädter Beiträge zur Naturges. 4, 29–43 (1994).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bradley, J., Harvey, R., McSween, H. et al. No ‘nanofossils’ in martian meteorite. Nature 390, 454–455 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/37257
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/37257
