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PolitiFact s ruling: False
Here s why: A group of scientists claims they have found proof of life in the form of fungi on Mars, according to a blog post and posts on social media. Scientists Claim to Spot Fungus Growing on Mars in NASA Rover Photos, read a Futurism article headline. MARS’ MAGIC MUSHROOMS Life on Mars shock claim as ‘growing FUNGI’ spotted in Mars Curiosity Rover snaps, read another in The Sun.
The articles point to a study published by a group of scientists titled, Fungi on Mars? Evidence of Growth and Behavior From Sequential Images.
The posts were flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed.
The fungus on Mars and the man who thinks he found life on other planets CNET 5/6/2021
Perseverance prior to launch at NASA s JPL Jerry van Andel sat alone on the bow of the RV Lulu, a floating junkyard of a ship, as it bobbed against the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Across deck, a team of scientists bustled around a basket full of strange life forms, wrenched from a mighty crack in the Earth, 10,000 feet below the ocean s surface.
It was a momentous haul, but van Andel, an energetic Dutch oceanographer from Stanford University, wasn t dancing around the find with the rest of the team. He was deep in thought, propped up on the anchor windlass. A shipmate, John Porteus, noticed and shuffled over.