How do you know if something has been dead for years or if it has recently lived?

Question

Explain a probable elemental analysis test you could develop to determine whether a microscopic organism collected on a rock from another planet was recently alive or died many years ago.

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Answer 1

   Do just like we do on earth, carbon date the organism.

Answer 2

Carbon dating?

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hba...

Answer 3

look at it's skin/hair teeth and other details on the body and also how it smells i know that is gross but its true  

Answer 4

Smell it, l**k it, touch it