Hi HHGlad to hear another voice sugges...

Hi HH

Glad to hear another voice suggesting that many of these images could be interpreted just as rationally as representing biology as they can geology. There are a few others, Mann, Dana sometimes and Horton who sits on the fence most times but sometimes comes out in strong defence of biology.

Yes! There are strong similarities to ascoma in several of the Phoenix images but it is still not clear enough to declare that they are indeed fungal asci, perithecia or whatever. They still might be geological features.

My considered opinion is that we really don't know what they are for sure as the reolution of the microscopy so far is not adequate to make a definitive call but that there are significant suggestions from the images that several of the particles seen might be biological in nature.

Here are two from yesterday's releases

Note the repeating structures. Almost like some "blooms" of flowers. Note the very biological look of the small spheres and filaments that predominantly make up the fuzzy dust. Note the repeating dematiaceous smooth objects that are seen as aggregates and separate spherical objects in the images and are in the same size range as earth ascomata but might be something else.

I think It is yet too early to declare that the particles are anything specific either from the bio side or the geo side. They could be either. I hope the AFM will provide some further evidence that will clarify that issue but I am not holding my breath on that.

In the meantime your views and arguments are very welcome.

Winston