It's a fungus! -- says Cosmology.com. ----Forwarded message---- From: cosmology@cosmology.com To: Cosmology@Cosmology.com Sent: Mon, Jan 20, 2014 11:38 PM MST Subject: PR: Apothecia on Mars? Martian Mystery Structure: Fungus / Cyanobacteria Organisms PR: Apothecia on Mars? Martian Mystery Structures May Be Fungus Cyanobacteria Organisms See: Cosmology.com for pictures/story Apothecia on Mars? Martian Mystery Structure May Be Composite Fungus and Cyanobacteria Organisms Rhawn Gabriel Joseph, Ph.D. The “mysterious” small cup-like structure which suddenly appeared on Mars does not resemble a rock or a meteor, but a lichen fungus which on Earth is known as “Apothecia” and which are not uncommonly observed on rocks, tree limbs, or growing on the ground next to open road. Related species are known by a variety of names, such as Eastern Speckled Shield Lichen (Punctellia Bolliana). The term “schield lichen” is applied to a variety of foliose lichens. An important characteristic is their bowl-shaped growth with brown inner surfaces. These bowl shaped structures are “apothecia” and appear basically identical to the “mystery” structure which NASA wishes the public to believe is a rock or meteor which suddenly sprouted on this slab of Martian real estate. Apothecia are the reproductive structures produced by the fungal component of the lichen, in association with cyanobacteria. If the mysterious bowl-shaped Martian structure is an Apothecia it germinated from algae and fungal spores on the ground in the circular spot in the "before" picture: SOL 2538. Apothecia are composite organisms, a mixture of fungus and cyanobacteria. A number of investigators have reported the discovery of cyanobacteria microfossils and colonies of fossilized cyanobacteria in a number of ancient meteors including the Murchison. Typically, if deprived of moisture, Apothecia will quickly dry and dehydrate and then become quite brittle--exactly as depicted in the photos of the Martian “mystery” structure. Eventually, if the dry spell continues, they may break apart and pieces will fall to the ground. However, these fragments can grow into new lichens and Apothecia. NASA is insisting on calling this structure a “rock” and have attributed to this structure a chemical and mineral composition which is unlike anything believed to be associated with the Martian surface. How NASA determined the structure's composition has not been explained. The mysterious structure which suddenly appeared in photograph Sol 3540 (a picture which NASA say was taken on January 8, 2014 Earth time), does not look like a rock. It looks like Apothecia. The sudden appearance of this structure is in fact what would be expected of Apothecia; but not of a rock. In fact, a close examination of SOL 3528, reveals the onset of the growth of this colony of organisms, a small bowl-shaped growth in the exact location, on the same slab of rock, where the larger bowl shaped structure appears in later a later photo, SOL 3540. Sol 3528- Note the miniature "bowl shaped" growth in the exact same location where the larger bowl-shaped structure appears 12 Martian days later. The Evidence is that this structure is a composite organism, fungi and cynaobacteria, known as Apothecia. SEE PHOTOS: Cosmology.com It is possible that evidence of life has been discovered on Mars, a collection of cells and a composite organism consisting of fungus and cyanobacteria, and which on Earth is known as Apothecia. R. Gabriel Joseph, Ph.D. Founder/Publisher of the Journal of Cosmology (June 2009-July 2011) Cosmology.com ******** ********* PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO QUOTE FROM ADD TO OR REPRODUCE THIS ENTIRE ARTICLE ********* To be removed from this mailing list, reply with REMOVE in the subject line.