Tuesday's press conference about the Phoenix Mars Lander followed rumors that were triggered by a story in Aviation Week released on Friday, according to New Scientist: The AW story said the MECA wet chemistry team was kept out of a 31 July press conference "to prevent them from being asked any questions that could reveal information before NASA is ready to make an announcement", about the "potential for life" on Mars. [right: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M]