As the Xinhua News Agency was cited as the Source of this Story - In order to prove It's veracity - The Originating Source has to corroborate It - No ?
And if They don't corroborate It - Where does that leave a Community like Ours as It regards Our Credibility for spreading It ?
Now lets say that I said something similar like - "CNN has reported that Atlantis has been found under the Antartic ice sheet and this will have Earthshattering implications for how Mankind understands It's previous History. It'll rewrite the History Books..."
Now if I said that and One went to check on It - Couldn't find anything to corroborate It from CNN - Would They even believe Me and even more succintly - Should They without Discerning or vetting the Source first ? I would say no. It also doesn't matter how many other supporting Sites parrot or repeat what I say - It still doesn't make what I said true - UNLESS - The Originating Source corroborates It...
Now understand - I want Info like this to be just as real as the next Person and I DO believe in Extraterrestrial Intelligences - But I won't be led by the Nose into Stories like this that cannot be proven or vetted by the Original Source...
So heres what I'm going to do in reference to this specific Issue. I'm going to contact this "Dr. Rosie Redfield" @ the Astrobiology Program at NASA Headquarters, Washington, and see if ;
Number 1 - Does this "Dr. Rosie Redfield" even exist and if so...
Number 2 - Does She or Her Agency as quoted - Corroborate this Story...
That'll put this Puppy to rest one way or the other and so I'll say for Myself - Until that evidence is Incoming - I'll Hold My conclusions. That stated - I'll do this tonight and hopefully We'll have an answer tomorrow sometime...
Sooo - Due to the reasons I have already elucidated - I still think this is a Hoax Story...
Time and the above correspondence will tell but I'm already getting a red flag. As I investigate this "Dr. Rosie Redfield" at the NASA Astrobiology Program - She doesn't appear to exist in that capacity @ this Organization...
Arrrggghhh - More to follow as I Investigate this...