Life on Mars?

Brent Gray, Chico, California — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 04:28:16 GMT

We can be almost certain that life does indeed exist on Mars today. We did not send sterile rovers etc., and microscopic life always amazes in its ability to survive. (We returned from the moon with earth microbes) Perhaps we are inadvertently seeding microbial life (or deliberately?) on our sister planet.

Life on Mars?

Vance — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 06:46:10 GMT

I think the only thing that is going to calm down life on this planet is the positive discovery of other life in the universe.Once this happens maybe we can come together as a planet and not be so arrogant about our place at "Gods" table.

Life on Mars?

James, Springfield, TN — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 12:52:15 GMT

I agree with Vance. We humans are full of ourselves when it comes to who knows the truth with God. I hope that life will be found so all of those religious "scholars" will have to rewrite some of their own textbooks. And in the end, maybe this world will come together and reach for something higher than itself.

Life on Mars?

Dennis, Richmond, Virginia — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:11:29 GMT

Nothing will calm life down on this planet as long as two different groups of people can each believe that a super powerful man living in the sky gave them a particular bit of land along with the right to kill the other people for it.

Life on Mars?

Sean, Kansas City — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:29:30 GMT

The fact that some people believe that Earth is the only place that life could possibly be proves how arrogant that we humans are. The universe is so ridiculously big that there is almost no way that we could be the only life out there.

Life on Mars?

Kraven, Canada — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 13:53:45 GMT

While I agree with Vance, I think it will take a lot more than some microbes to change people as a whole. Obviously, intelligent life is the big one, but I think we'd at least need something big enough to see with the naked eye to have any real impact at all. I suppose only time will tell.

Life on Mars?

Patrick Bishop, Caldwell, NJ — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 14:20:51 GMT

Assuming that life did evolve on Mars during a more hospitable period in its history, and given that the change in conditions from then to what we see now took long enough, AND given that the life that evolved there was not overspecialized when environmental changes set in, there certainly SHOULD be something alive there that can tolerate present conditions...maybe even something that exploits those conditions somehow.

However, given Mars' atmosphere's very thinness and the amount of UV that reaches the surface, it is unlikely that electrostatic charges would separate very far or for very long. I experiment w/ high voltage electrostatic contraptions all the time (here on Earth) and doubt very seriously that a charge would accumulate to a significant degree in an atmosphere as "grounded out" as Mars' should be.

Life on Mars?

Mark — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:16:49 GMT

I cannot wait for the day that life is discovered somewhere else, and that the notion that life needs the exact requirements that we have here on earth is busted.

As the saying goes " Life will find a way..."

Life on Mars?

Wade Whitlock, Aberdeen, MD — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:37:56 GMT

Aside from the fact that life, once established, is tenacious, eventually things could get too tough. The only way to get a final determination is to put boots on the surface (hopefully sterilized!) and do some asceptic technique digging.

If there is no indigenous life on Mars, we can occupy, terraform and go from there. What the heck, Johnny Appleseed redux! The Mars flag should be red, green and blue, because those are the stages it might go through if we get off our bottoms and get moving. Prognostications from the burning shrub not withstanding.

I strongly suspect that Vance will be disappointed in the response of the god believers. They have a remarkable ability to lie, distort and dodge the facts so that they can remain in their fantasy world. See the $25 million dollar museum in Kentucky. What good could have been done with that money?

Here about the $100K given to the professional global warming doubter? Scholarly prostitution if I ever heard of it! Ought to have his degrees revoked.

Life on Mars?

Wade Whitlock, Aberdeen, MD — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 16:47:29 GMT

News Flash!
Intelligent life may have been found evolving in Kansas. Recent findings had cast some doubt that intelligent life existed in flatland. The state-wide school board elections may have removed the religious right's grasp. Stay tuned!

We don't move Atlantis to the pad because of a couple of thunderstorms. OK. Soooo, we now move it out with Chris becoming a hurricane wannabe and Cape Carnival in the 5-day cone? Oh, and it is supposed to sit there for how long before launch? Did I miss something?

Life on Mars?

a p garcia — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:00:31 GMT

Life is durable and will find a way to survice and trives where most people would consider conditions "Sterile". Examples are the Earth microbes found on one of the Lunar Lander and brough back by Apollo 12. Microbes were exposed to UV light, radiation, extreme high low temperatures. The fish in the Antartic Ocean that trives in waters that are below freezing. Microbes and fish that trive in deep ocean vents where pressures & temperatures are hellish. These microbes would say it is "Miller time" in an autoclave. Pictures of fish swiming at the bottom of the "Challenger deep" in the Marianas trench, seven miles under the ocean.

Life on Mars?

Raymond Barber,Albany,NY — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:14:09 GMT

The Universe is a large place, probability alone- using our star and solar system as a model, proves that there must be life in existence elsewhere.

Vance, I do not believe the discovery of life elsewhere in the solar system let alone within the Galaxy we reside, either intelligent or microbial will ever take “Mans” arrogance away from him. Rather, “Man” would gloat in his own “genius” to have made such a discovery. However my friend, we can always hope. ;)

Life on Mars?

Brian, Dallas, Texas — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:52:45 GMT

I think Vance brings up a very valid point. When we are able to proove that life has or does exist on another planet we are going to have a big debate on our hands. I am really curious as to how religions will respond to those findings and what course religion as a whole will take in our world.

Life on Mars?

Paula, Forest Lake, MN — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 17:59:46 GMT

I think we should be spending the money here on earth helping people and quit running around the universe in hopes of finding others. This planet is going to crap fast with today's society and we all should hope there is a God. No way did this planet just happen on it's own. The way everthing interacts with each other is amazing and is overwhelming. We need to save the earth and ourselves and find out as much as we can about where we live and not where others may live.

Life on Mars?

Byron Raum, Beverly Hills, CA — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:07:16 GMT

I really do not understand how large amounts of UV or hydrogen peroxide's oxidizing effects can be considered to be inimical to life. Maybe UV radiation and electrostatic differentials is what life on Mars uses to power its processes! After all, a corrosive, poisonous atmosphere, containing large amounts of the dangerous gas oxygen is an excellent argument against any possibility of life on planet earth. The problem with "life as we know it" is that we really don't know much about life except DNA-based life. In order to keep an open mind, we should be looking for energy sources that can organize very long chains of molecules. Instead of dismissing UV radiation, we should consider it a possible energy source and the oxidative effect of hydrogen peroxide might be exactly what life needs to live there.

Life on Mars?

J. B. — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:14:53 GMT

I love it when people mock religion and then state that our salvation will come from the discovery of life from other planets. This strikes me as just as much of a religious statement since it is based completely on faith (faith that there are other beings out there, faith that they will somehow make us stop fighting each other). I don't have a problem with anyone who believes in that, but I do have a problem with people who believe that way and also mock people for believing in God.

Life on Mars?

James, Houston — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:28:52 GMT

New variants on the old theories attempting to explain away the Viking lander "labeled release" experiment results seem to appear on a regular basis. Why is the opinion about those results of the experiment's principal investigator, Dr. Gilbert Levin, never even acknowledged in these articles?

Levin has consistently argued that the results could only be an indication of life and that the conditions on Mars are not favorable to the existence "superoxides" on the surface of the planet in concentrations that would prevent life from existing. There is no empirical evidence whatsoever to support this theory; only more theories on top of the old ones.

For anyone interested in the other side of the argument, Levin lays out his position in a paper that can be found at:

http://mars.spherix.com/spie2/Spie2001Oxides/Spie2001-oxides.htm

Aside from the Viking results, one wonders why the scientists who allow that life might exist "far" (as in many kilometers) under the martian surface never consider the possibility that it might exist a few centimeters under the surface. Several years ago, a failure to detect life in the surface soil of the arid Atacama desert in South America was bally-hooed in the media as yet more evidence that life is unlikely on Mars. But subsequent analysis by another team of researchers found there were in fact living organisms just a few centimeters below the surface where the first team looked. This second team concluded that in order to find signs of life, sometimes you need to "dig a little deeper" -- but not kilometers deeper.

It almost seems as if scientists who have staked their reputations on theories against life on Mars are averse to considering any possibilities that might undermine those theories.

Life on Mars?

Alan Boyle — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 20:42:50 GMT

I tried to get in touch with Dr. Levin on Tuesday but didn't have any luck. However, he responded to my e-mail today, and you can look forward to a meaty update up top in the next little while. He'll also be presenting a paper on Aug. 14 during the SPIE conference. Here's the link (which I'll repeat in the up-top update):

http://spie.org/Conferences/Programs/06/
op/conferences/index.cfm?fuseaction=6309

Life on Mars?

Garyb — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 21:04:39 GMT

Wonder if anyone has recreated current conditions on Mars and seen what kinds of organisms if any can survive there on the surface and underground.

Gary

Life on Mars?

Larry Hughes — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 02:19:02 GMT

Life on Mars? Life on Earth? Which is it? Quite a paradox of conjecture at this point. Life on Mars as we know it? I doubt it.I would imagine many can consider Mars as a dead planet unable to sustain life as we know it and justifiably so.I will have to say there is probably some life form ( possibly microscopic) that can survive comfortably in a Martan environment either under the ground or atmospherically borne carried about by the many dust storms.

What about the intelligence level of these micro particles? Are they able to replicate and communicate? Are they in a state of suspended annimation waiting to receive the needed ingredients to florish once again? What will be the consequences of these forms should we disturb them? Can our life forms benefit from these microbes or will they be our curse?

A lot of questions to be answered before we start digging around in an Alien world. I would hate to see us open up a pandoras box that will cause catastropic consequences for the explorers on Mars or the inhabitants on Earth. Here we have two planets. One that appears baren and desolate ( might consider it a dead planet). The other a planet that is abundant with thousands of different life forms that sutain life in the sea and land. Short of the possibility that a massive celestial object bombared the planet and decimated life, why does it appear so lifeless and baren. It does have the capacity to be a flourishing planet with life forms possibly close to what we consider intelligent life forms capable of surviving in the Mars atmosphere.

I would imagine the errosive effects, gravitational or magnetic pull, UV radiation, and other elements that we may not be aware of yet may have dealt this planet it's death keel and prevented it from evolving any further than it's present condition.

On a positive note there may be many minerals there that may be beneficial to our economy but other worlds and moons in our solar system are a better gold mine of minerals and gases that would be more beneficial for exploration or exploitation considering our depleting natural resources here on earth.

Life on Mars?

Lim Jyh Ren, Singapore — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 05:31:13 GMT

No one knows exactly how big is the universe. There could be life on Mars, there could be life elsewhere nearby or far far away.

Why is there so much debate over the existance of life on the little red planet for decades? Because:
(a) it is nearest to Earth,
(b) its a planet where we have most knowledge of compared to others,
(c) it is possibly a planet where humans can physically explore and visit when science and technology allow,
(d) we all want to satisfy our curiousity.

Until the day it can be scientificically proven that Earth is the one and only, I believe that we are not the only ones around.

Life on Mars?

George, Naples, Fla — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 06:11:55 GMT

Life other than on Earth? There are 5 billion stars in our Solar system alone, and 5 billion Solar systems, many larger than our Milky Way. Do the math. It's most likely that there is other life in our own Galaxy. The odds that we are the only life in the entire Universe is inane. There has to be another planet within the uncountable trillions that can support life.

Life on Mars?

Angel, St. James, Missouri — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 18:36:03 GMT

How can anyone be certain whether or not life exists beyond earth? I do think that some are jumping the gun by saying there is no chance for life on Mars. Some seem to forget that not everything requires the same environment as we do, to survive. There may be life on mars, creatures that may have evolved.

Life on Mars?

Quinton, Austin, Texas — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 19:24:36 GMT

Finding life on other planets would be nice, but I think NASA and the gov'tments main priority is to find planets we can exploit and possible habitate in the future when this planet become unhospitable due to overcrowding, pollution, global warming, etc. If we found intelligent life we would probably kill it or imprison it.

Life on Mars?

Kerri Stanley Antlers Oklahoma. — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 04:31:24 GMT

When it comes to find life forms on other planets to me there is life forms on all planets, not just Mars but all planets. The energies flow into planets of all, electricity of positive of nature is there. [...] I predict in a couple of years you will find some neat and interest things and life that we never thought of that could be, and far as now you will find some now, more than you know. Open your minds, it will be there.

Life on Mars?

Jennifer Perez-Lopez, Venice, Florida — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:55:01 GMT

First of all, I just read the PLEASE READ section of this blog rules and it clearly says do not attack others. The lack of respect for people who believe in God being shown here is disheartening.

Nowhere in the bible does it say there is only one planet in the universe with life (intelligent or otherwise). To my knowledge, the Christian Religion does NOT teach that we are alone in the universe. Therefore, if life is found on other planets it does not necessarily go against organized religious beliefs.

Furthermore, I would like to say to some of you that picked up on Vance's comments that I am sad to find all of your experiences with religious people led you to hate them so. I think if these are the feelings you have toward Christians (that they lie and twist facts, that they are arrogant for example) then you have never met a true Christian and you need to reevaluate your thoughts on those scientists you have set up as idols.

Life on Mars?

Chris M. Manchester, NH — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:12:22 GMT

With regards to not spending money on exploration in favor of spending it fixing our own planet's woes...

The problem is not lack of money, nor even money misspent and wasted. The problem is political, which means that it is a human problem, not an economic one. The real reason there is hunger and poverty in the world, and why our planet is going through its death throes now is because we allow governments, corportations, and special interests (including the religious ones) to act without conscience, thereby proving our own unconscienable tolerance of it. If one examines the problems that plague our world more closely, it becomes more apparent that the central core of those problems comes down to politics.

The one hope and saving grace of humanity is our curiosity and need to explore and hopefully learn. Granted, for every one of us that looks towards exploration with hope there are ten who look towards discovery as a potential economic boon. Still, I place my faith in the few who have long-range vision, rather than the comparatively short-sightedness of those that exploit our world...and those who possess the somewhat myopic view that throwing money at a problem makes it disappear.

Life on Mars?

Michael, Houston, Tx. — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:43:37 GMT

I agree with a few others here, that life doesn't "have" to exist as we know it to exist biologically on our planet earth. Life can be made up of materials suitable for it's difference, to things we are aware of. I personally think it is silly, and arrogant thinking, that all life has to be made up from materials, as we know them.

Life on Mars?

WILLIAM,WESTON,WV — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:54:11 GMT

AMEN JENNIFER

Life on Mars?

Richard Ezekiel Homestead Fl. — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:03:35 GMT

Can you imagine this entire Universe being lifeless except for Earth. What an insane notion. It's time we wake up and wrap our minds around the fact that we are a grain of sand in the big picture. The Universe is swimming in life. Many different varities of life must certainly exist, otherwise the Universe would be pointless. Colonization and seeding are taking place at this very moment, we are but a small fraction of that process.

Life on Mars?

Haljasmaa, Monroeville, PA — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:40:56 GMT

With such a grand universe, there must be life somewhere out there. We cannot be the only ones. That would be quite interesting if life is found on mars...now that they think they have found water.

Life on Mars?

Neil A Farr Sr — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:02:49 GMT

There is life out there. Any entity with the power to create our Earth and all that it involves most assuredly has the ability to create life in other areas as well. We will learn these things when the time has come, not before.

Life on Mars?

Joe Steeele, Concord, NC — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:06:18 GMT

The Key is "life as we know it". Life does not have to be "as we know it". If scientists would only open their eyes and explore the fact that Life does not have to be "as we know it", the very definition of Life is made by Men on Earth "as they know it". Life forms, unknown to Men of Earth, probably exists, if only explorers would open their eyes and minds. Just Why does Life have to be "as we know it??". Our Universe is but an atom in a molecule of a Life form, we know as GOD.... There are billions upon billions of other Atoms and molecules. Time, as we know it, is based on Earth Man's Life span, does that make our definition correct???

Life on Mars?

Lynn Lane — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:16:47 GMT

U.S. needs to claim it,for science and a strategic move for our safety of the earth.

Life on Mars?

John Causey, Peoria, IL — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:28:16 GMT

There are some pretty interesting comments here. My personal opinion; there has to be other intelligent life if not within or own galaxy, some other far away galaxy. Gene Roddenberry was a genious to come up with the comcept of Star Trek. As humans, we tend to feel like we are more than what we really are. God still has a many of us to humble just yet. I will admit, with the help of God man has achieved great things and many more to achieve in the near future. We are way to arrogant, cocky, egotistic, and power hungry. God forbid if there really is other species out there that maybe more advanced then hominoids. I personally feel that if God wanted us to know about other civilizations outside our own galaxy he would have introduced them to us by now. Maybe it's not meant for us to be up there to begin with. Read Jer 50:12,23, and 51:9,49,53 also Isaiah 14:13-14 in the Bible which explains america's obsession with space and how God will deal with her in the future. It plain and clear that humans shall not occupy the regions above the clouds. I encourage you all to read, "America the Babylon", by R.A. Coombes available through the intra-library book system. Speaking of which, Hollywood tends to go overboard with some of their movies but they do have a pretty basic idea about what's going on up there. NASA and the U.S. government has their fair share of muti-billion dollar "Black Budget" that the average person will never hear about. I could go on but I believe we all pretty much get the picture. God Bless us all and not just the U.S.A.!

Life on Mars?

Robert Jackson Palmer Lake Colorado — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 02:45:41 GMT

I have my own theories about life on Mars and space and time. You can view them on my website.

Life on Mars?

Jim Gardner Helena, AR — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 03:47:49 GMT

To: John Causey

Perhaps you over-look the possibility we are able to "go there" because God gave us the intellectual capability to achieve the trip.

Perhaps you were also one of the ones saying the deaths in New Orleans would not have happened had "they" been more in line with Gods wishes.

America was not in existence in biblical times so you are assuming the references you give refer to us. My train of thought leads me to believe assumptions are very dangerous.

Life on Mars?

Kaitlin, vancouer, Wa — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 05:30:29 GMT

ok... if there is, lets say water on mars, how will that affect us?... what will that do to us?... will it only affect religion?...... or will we too want to live on mars?. but what for?...

Life on Mars?

Rick, Layton, UT — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 07:14:10 GMT

I say if we have the capability to visit other worlds, like Mars, then let's visit them. That would be awesome if the whole life being found on Mars turns out to be true. But if not, then Mars would be a great planet to learn more about our solar system and about the planet itself.

Also, we could use Mars as a backup planet just in case if Earth gets hit by a devestating astroid or some global catastrophe and also we could use Mars to go deeper into space due to its lower gravitational pull. It's just an idea.

Life on Mars?

Petawawa — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:21:59 GMT

hey my name is mckenzie and Im all into the space thing and Im doing a project on mars and I was just wondering that if life does exist on mars and it wasn't water or plants and it was aliens what would the aliens need to survive on mars

Life on Mars?

alison forth.worth tx — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 20:22:54 GMT

hey my name is alison i want to learn more about mars. i love mars .

Life on Mars?

Kevin Hart Cahokia,Illinois — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:19:48 GMT

well that was good but is there someway we can do a science project on whether or not it's possible

Life on Mars?

Chriztashia,Waco,Tx — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:00:12 GMT

I think that there is life beyond Earth we just haven't found it or we haven't had the right tools to look for it yet.

Life on Mars?

Ben Peeler, Gaffney, SC — Fri, 04 May 2007 18:44:11 GMT

There is too much hope that WHEN life is discovered elsewhere in the universe that the religious fanatics will quiet down. When life elsewhere is proven, they will simply re-interpret the bible to prove that a deity HAS to be responsible for that life also. Religion evolves (ha ha) with each new scientific discovery (although quite slowly)

Life on Mars?

David Traver, Cardston, Alberta — Mon, 07 May 2007 23:10:24 GMT

Actually in My religion it's stated that God created many worlds as many as number the grains of sand on a beach so obviously Loads of them so if he created so many of them why would he put life on just one? and Im a Christian by the way so go check your bible God states he made more then one world. Also if we do find Life on Mars GREAT give us all something to read instead of that Celeb Gossip crap if there is no Life lets Terraform the planet dont use it as a back up Colonize it ASAP that way when we do meet intelligent life atleast they will say "well they were able to Colonize another planet atleast"

Life on Mars?

randy paulo mabbayad,zamboanga city — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:36:15 GMT

i think, thre's no life will exist on mars.

Life on Mars?

John L Causey, Bryan, Texas — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:00:33 GMT

Life on Mars, could it be? Yes, of course it is likely that there is or was life on the planet. When anyone says that there is no chance of it happening it seems odd to hear. We are still finding life that we did not know existed in places that according to our science "no life should be". While I don't fall into the group that looks at the Cydonia pics and say "proof", I do fall into that group that says "how could life be limited to one big blue rock"? And on a didn't note I think it's funny I'm the second "John Causey" to comment!

Life on Mars?

Naveed fromD.G.Khan. Pakistan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:19:09 GMT

Yes,I think there is life on Mars. the reason is that we have found water on Mars. there should be some sort of life.

Life on Mars?

MAHARAJ , CHENNAI, TAMILNADU — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:12:52 GMT

IF THERE IS AN ICE MEANS THERE MUST BE WATER ,IF TH IS WATER THERE MUST SOME ALGAE SO PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE MUST BE AN ORGANISNM SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THAT AREA , I FOUND THAT THERE IS AN ICE GLACIAD INSOUTHERN PART OF MARS.