Another Misleading Headline

Recently, I wrote a blog post about a misleading headline, which is typical of the way the media often distorts stories (particularly in regard to the origins issue). Well, another headline appeared recently: “Fossils Could Be Found by Next Mars Rover, Study Hints.”

To help you understand the problems with the article about this supposed evidence of possible fossils on Mars, and I have italicized certain words for emphasis. (For the sake of brevity, I have deleted some words from the article.)

Based on the geology of Mars's northern plains, the new study suggests . . . but also could have sustained . . .

However, even when Mars was supposedly wet, the planet likely didn't have a very thick atmosphere. Many scientists therefore think that if life as we know it evolved . . .

Mineral evidence on Mars suggests that surface water must have been . . .

Previous theories had suggested . . .

Groundwater appears to have come to the surface in this region for about two billion years, the study authors say . . .

The overall landscape suggests that . . . pressurized groundwater could have escaped . . .

The study team thinks the water must have come from an extensive underground aquifer that reached from the plains to higher elevations . . .

The new theory hints that oceans and lakes could have remained stable on Mars for perhaps thousands of years . . .

The stability of ponded water would also increase if covered by ice," he said.

And stable lakes might have allowed any underground creatures . . .

"We know that evolution and successful adaptations of life-forms to new environments are more likely to occur . . ." So gradual and long-lived groundwater emergence would have increased the chances of successful adaptations to the surface and near-surface environments." . . .

Based on this theory, it's possible . . .

And potential fossils—may exist . . .

Baker also agrees that Martian groundwater had the potential to support life. . . .

It could be evidence . . .

"To expect that Mars would have achieved something like the Cambrian explosion"—Earth's most intense burst of evolution—"would really be stretching it," he added.

"But to expect that Mars might have [microorganisms] similar to what was characteristic life for most of Earth's very early history is not too great of a stretch."

I trust this helps you understand how careful we should be when reading news headlines!

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken