Posted by tourdemars to Terraforming at March 1, 2004 12:00 PM

An astronomy team led by a Boulder-Colo.-based Space Science Institute researcher has detected hydrogen peroxide for the first time in the martian atmosphere. Antiseptic and life-killing, the chemical helps explain why the martian atmosphere and surface are void of life. Acting as a catalyst, it drives the abundance of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the martian atmosphere. Without hydrogen peroxide, molecular oxygen -- now a tiny sliver -- would soar to compose 10 percent of the martian atmosphere.