Scientists have concluded that a meteorite from Mars contains no evidence of ancient Martian life.

-- A 4 billion-year-old meteorite from Mars that caused a splash here on Earth decades ago contains no evidence of ancient, primitive Martian life after all, scientists reported Thursday.

But two scientists who took part in the original study took issue with these latest findings, calling them “disappointing." In a shared email, they said they stand by their 1996 observations.

He said he and his team — which includes NASA, German and British scientists — took care to present their results “for what they are, which is a very exciting discovery about Mars and not a study to disprove” the original premise.

The only way to prove whether Mars ever had or still has microbial life, according to Steele, is to bring samples to Earth for analysis.