Last week, researcher Steve Benner announced at a conference in Florence that a new analysis of Martian meteorites and some new theorizing on his part led to such evidence by suggesting Mars would have had a better supply of certain minerals needed for as templates for the self-assembly of RNA, thought a crucial step to the origin of life, since it likely preceded DNA as the primary carrier of genetic information. Molybdenum is apparently key to this mineral template.
Despite widespread coverage, most stories just parroted the press release with very little useful analysis or context.
Read the full, original story here: Uncritical “Reporting” Follows Press Release Claiming Earthly Life Came from Mars