The conditions on Mars imply an evolutionary advantage for organisms employing a mixture of H2O2 and H2O in their
intracellular fluid: the H2O2-H2O eutectic freezes at -56.5°C, is hygroscopic and a source of oxygen. Contrary to common
belief, H2O2 is used for a variety of purposes in terrestrial biochemistry. The Viking Lander Biology Experiments have often
been interpreted as the result of inorganic oxidants in the Martian soil. Here, we interpret the Viking findings as the result of
the reactions of H2O2-H2O based life. Several hitherto puzzling findings are explained by the H2O2-H2O hypothesis. The
lack of detected organics is the result of autooxidation of the organisms as these were gradually heated. Supportive
observations were made in the PR and LR experiments. Our interpretation is that the addition of water vapor at a relatively
high temperature could only be withstood by the organisms for a short time, as they perished due to hyperhydration. The
evolution of oxygen in the GEx experiment is explained by the high oxidative content of the organisms as they perished in
this experiment. The PR experimental conditions were most Mars-like and carbon assimilation could be detected but no
growth. Particularly, the GEx experiment allows the calculation of biomass in the Martian soil based on measured evolution
of reaction products. Further properties of the suggested organisms such as metabolic reactions and by-products may be
detected by future Mars missions.
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