In the center of this electron microscope image of a small chip from a 
meteorite are several tiny structures that are possible microscopic fossils 
of primitive, bacteria-like organisms that may have lived on Mars more than 
3.6 billion years ago. A two-year investigation by a NASA research team 
found organic molecules, mineral features characteristic of biological 
activity and possible microscopic fossils such as these inside of an ancient 
Martian rock that fell to Earth as a meteorite. The largest possible fossils 
are less than 1/100th the diameter of a human hair in size while most are ten
times smaller.

Annie Platoff <aplatoff@gp401.jsc.nasa.gov>
Responsible NASA Official: Kelly Humphries <khumphri@gp301.jsc.nasa.gov>
7 August 1996