There have been a lot of assumptions lately about what the latest chemical discovery on Mars means for the habitability factor, and although we still have to wait for further results, one thing is clear: it’s not the best time to be pessimistic, as the respective chemical compound is “neither good nor bad for life,” as Michael Hecht of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena explained.

The investigation on the presence of perchlorate in the Martian soil is still a work in progress, as there are a lot of elements that need to be identified in order to solve the enigma. A confirmation however wouldn’t be as bad, but rather exciting, Hecht commented, “because different types of perchlorate salts have interesting properties that may bear on the way things work on Mars if- and that’s a big if – the results from our two teaspoons of soil are representative of all of Mars, or at least a significant portion of the planet.”

While the influence of perchlorate on Mars habitability still remains unclear, there are however some aspect scientists do know: first of all, although known to be toxic for human health in cases of long exposure, perchlorate is an element that is naturally found on Earth as well, where it doesn’t necessarily destroy organic material.

One place where perchlorate can be found is the Chilean Desert Atacama, NASA says. And the phenomenon is easily explicable: perchlorate can naturally accumulate in arid areas, with little or no rainfall.

A 2006 study, signed by Glen Miller from the University of Nevada, attempted to explain the presence of perchlorate in playa areas of the western United States, in nitrate deposits from northern Chile and in surface and groundwater in the southwester United States.

By conducting a study using soil from the Death Valley and the Black Rock Desert, scientists managed to generate perchlorate by direct exposure of chloride to sunlight and ultraviolet light for 1-4 months. This suggested that such arid soils contribute to the natural generation of perchlorate.

NASA explained this week during a press conference that some microorganisms on Earth are even fueled by processes that involve perchlorate, and some plants even concentrate the substance. “Right now, we don’t know whether finding perchlorate is good news or bad news for possible life on Mars,” said Phoenix principal investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson.

The possibility of life on Mars gave birth to a lot of speculations lately; some even suggested that NASA and the White House know something we don’t know about little green guys on Mars. This was a clear sign for NASA that the public needs to know more about the Mars exploration and the ongoing investigation.

“The Phoenix project has decided to take an unusual step” in disclosing information on an ongoing research that even NASA knows little about, said Peter Smith. However, they “decided to show the public science in action because of the extreme interest in the Phoenix mission, which is searching for a habitable environment on the northern plains of Mars.”

So there are no Martians to talk about (yet) and it is still too early to say whether the chemical discovery is good or bad sign for one of man’s greatest dreams, to find other forms of life somewhere in the Universe. All we can do now is wait for NASA scientists to add more pieces to the puzzle.