Photo: Bioweapon Sensor Mirrors "Star Trek" Tricorder

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Mars Science Laboratory, NASA's next generation Mars rover seen at left in this artist's conception, will be much larger than the Spirit and Opportunity rovers now exploring the red planet.

One of the scanning devices rovers may carry in the future is a life-sign sensor that could search for the biochemical actions of extraterrestrial organisms.

Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech

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