More Zn, Ge = life on Mars??

Well, I was surprised to read this article, but after reading it, I reined in my expectations considerably.

See, the URL says that the elevated zinc (Zn) and germanium (Ge) concentrations found by Curiosity bolster the case for life on Mars.  But they don't really do that.  They only indicate the likely presence of high temperature (hydrothermal) environments on Mars, which probably mean hydrothermal environments amenable to life, like deep-sea hydrothermal vents or hot springs (terrestrial) here on Earth.

It's a considerable distance from a place that there could be life, as indicated by the data, compared to data that's at least peripherally related to actual biological activity.

Nonetheless, it's an interesting discovery, and shows that Curiosity is on the job.

Note that the title of the article is somewhat more realistic.

Elevated zinc and germanium levels bolster evidence for habitable environments on Mars

"At concentrations that have been estimated for the average Martian crust, germanium is below the detection limit of the [Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer] APXS instrument and scientists did not expect to see it. So when the data was analyzed for elements beyond the main 16 elements, the researchers were surprised to find germanium, like zinc, is at concentrations up to 100 times higher than in the average Martian meteorite, and even 300 times higher in one vein, Berger said. The new study is the first to include APXS measurements of germanium during the rover’s first 1,360 sols, according to the study’s authors. A sol is a Martian day, which is 24 hours and 39 minutes long."

So, more possibilities where life could have begun and existed on Mars. Neat.