--- title: "Scientists Worried NASA Will Infect Earth With Deadly Martian Pathogens" description: "Many fear that Martian samples could contain unknown, life-threatening interplanetary pathogens, and in a public NASA forum, they let the agency know." date: "2022-06-23" modified: "2022-06-23" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-infect-earth-deadly-martian-pathogens" categories: - "Health & Medicine" - "Medical" - "NASA" - "Pathogens" - "Space" tags: - "mars" - "NASA" - "space exploration" - "the digest" --- # Scientists Worried NASA Will Infect Earth With Deadly Martian Pathogens ![Many fear that Martian samples could contain unknown, life-threatening interplanetary pathogens, and in a public NASA forum, they let the agency know.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Cosmic Cooties Mars exploration is a still-growing focus for the international space community, and organizations worldwide — particularly [China]() and the [US]() — have their sights set on obtaining Martian samples back to Earthly labs over the next ten or so years. Some scientists, however, aren't exactly thrilled about the rock retrieval missions, [*Scientific American* reports](). Many fear that Martian samples could contain [unknown, potentially life-threatening]() interplanetary pathogens, and in a [public NASA forum](), they expressed these worries in no uncertain terms. "Are you out of your minds?" said one commenter. "Not just no, but hell no." "No nation should put the whole planet at risk," added another. ## Team NASA According to *SciAm,* NASA maintains that the mission presents little to no risk to environmental or human safety, a view that — to be fair — many experts share. Prominent astrobiologist Steve Benner, for example, told the magazine that if Martian materials presented a threat to Earth, we would have known by now. Mars is often pummeled by asteroids and other space rocks, and as a result dispels planetary substances pretty regularly; according to the scientist, approximately 500 kilograms of this Martian material already makes its way to Earth each year. He reportedly even keeps a hunk of Red Planet rock on his desk. "In the over 3.5 billion years since life appeared on Earth, trillions of other rocks have made similar journeys," the astrobiologist told the publication. "If Mars microbiota exist and can wreak havoc on Earth’s biosphere, it has already happened, and a few more kilograms from NASA will not make any difference." ## Abundance of Caution NASA's approach isn't without care. The American space agency [plans on storing the samples]() in a secure, off-site biolab, near the remote US Air Force facility in Utah where the proposed retrieval is set to land. Exploring the unknown comes with, well, unknowns. It does seem unlikely that hitchhiking Martian pathogens would wreak havoc on our Pale Blue Dot — but with stakes so high, it's worth entertaining a healthy debate about how to mitigate risk. **READ MORE:** [*Controversy Grows Over whether Mars Samples Endanger Earth*]() \[Scientific American\] **More on the Mars rock scaries:** [*Scientists Worried About Military Facility to Store NASA Mars Rocks*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()