A low temperature transfer of ALH84001 from Mars to Earth

The ejection of material from Mars is thought to be caused by Large impacts that would heat much of the ejecta to high temperatures. Images of the mag netic field of martian meteorite ALH84001 reveal a spatially heterogeneous pattern of magnetization associated with fractures and rock fragments. Heat ing the meteorite to 40 degreesC reduces the intensity of some magnetic fea tures, indicating that the interior of the rock has not been above this tem perature since before its ejection from the surface of Mars. Because this t emperature cannot sterilize most bacteria or eukarya, these data support th e hypothesis that meteorites could transfer Life between planets in the sol ar system.