Was Mars too salty for life?

www.actionforspace.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:11:22 GMT

What about all the life on earth that is in salt water?

Don't scientists believe that life on earth began in salty oceans?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Charles J., San Diego, CA — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:29:19 GMT

I applaud NASA's willingness to continue the rover programs when the rovers have survived far beyond their expected lifespan and are still producing useful information. Those rovers were not expected to survive their first Martian winter... and now, isn't this going to be their third or fourth?

It may be decades or centuries before we get to colonize Mars, but these little rovers are filling in what otherwise would be big unknowns when we do. Besides, it's inspirational work, and it's also inspirational that a government agency can do their job so well.

It's reasons like this that the Congress needs to cut back on earmarks and let the federal agencies have a little wiggle room in how they spend the money.

Was Mars too salty for life?

steve smyth — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:33:12 GMT

the picture excited me because, at first, it looked just like Upham NM...home of America's Spaceport.
shucks!
where's the interest?
where's the spaceport?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Robert Wheelock, Chandler, Arizona — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:16:42 GMT

I was seven years old when the United States launched Explorer I, our first Earth-orbiting satellite. I was captivated and amazed then; I continue to be wowed to this day. Outer space is man's destiny.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Gregg Gallagher — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:03:46 GMT

Too salty...hmm...so, please explain this picture from the Rovers...

http://www.enterprisemission.com/_articles/03-08-2004/crinoid_cover-up.htm

Was Mars too salty for life?

Algorithms — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 02:55:56 GMT

This is, indeed, disappointing, but not surprising. We must remember that life of any kind is, at its heart, a story about chemistry. If the chemistry isn't there, you can't have life.

But this does paint an increasingly confident picture about Mars that finds its first epoch a place of limited microbial possibilities, followed by four billion years of sterility. If there ever was life on Mars, its likely going to be decades before we ever know for certain.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Thomas Ashby, Calgary — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:21:41 GMT

Makes you wonder why the US and world are prepared to spend untold billions to get a few people there!

Was Mars too salty for life?

CD, St Louis MO — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:31:41 GMT

Why is it that we automatically assume over and over again what environments life can and cannot survive in, and continue to assume, even when, be it a deep sea vent in the ocean or the Great Salt Lake, we are consistantly proven wrong?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Noah, OKC, OK — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 04:39:30 GMT

All these scientist seem to be ignoring (as always it seems) the evidence showing there was advance life on Mars, whether it evolved from there or not. http://www.enterprisemission.com has more info about this.

Was Mars too salty for life?

a p garcia — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:17:37 GMT

"Life will find a way" is a famous line in Juriasic Park movies. Life has been found on Earth inside Nuclear reactors, deep sea vents, hotponds at Yellowstone, inside rocks deep below the surface, on the surface of the Moon so brime is no problem for life.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Roy Fritz — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:39:12 GMT

Just how deep could the water have been on Mars? How much longer will the rovers tbe able to test the planet? Could they be repaired by another rover robot if needed? It is amasing that we can send equipement that far to look for water and minerals but we cannot use them here to look for water. Will the next rover going to Mars be able to talk with the rovers there know?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Dan, Tigard, Or — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:03:29 GMT

Wut the!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Describe that picture please!! That looks like the surface of a pond rippling in the breeze. Has the 'pool' area been photographically enhanced or intensified separately from the other areas of the photo? More description of the photo please.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 13:23:39 GMT

WAS MARS TOO SALTY FOR LIFE?
Life on ancient Mars just got tougher.

"In fact, it was salty enough that only a handful of known terrestrial organisms would have a ghost of a chance of surviving there when conditions were at their best," Harvard biologist Andrew Knoll, a member of the Mars rover science team, told reporters.

We need not worry about the paper or the global warming. Time is a great healer.

Sir:
There it is. The moon is not made of cheese and the there is plenty of salt in Mars. In fact, the UFOs seen in many parts of Australia and America were the plates made in Mars by the corporation called Salty Lakes Unlimited. Their IPO officer is in Mexico talking to Hugo Chavez and then he goes off to Mamore Gaddafi. There is also a plane to bring the salt to earth in the new shuttle near the Turkey’s border near Poland. This is strictly restricted area. EU and UN thinks like the stealing oil form for the leaking oil pipes; these will create the rush of all the low blood pressures victims to scoop all the salt free. D. David form the Hexagon is very tight lipped.

More unfolds as the China gives the go ahead to the public wallets for the Darfur and Omega salts funds.

I thank you.
Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD
P.O.Box 6044
Dar-Es-Salaam
Tanzania
East Africa

Was Mars too salty for life?

josh mcdonald,somerset,KY — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:01:43 GMT

how does this affect the possible terraforming of mars?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Devan M Seattle Wash — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:57:59 GMT

That doesnt make any sense - couldn't life that was there adapt and evolve to the climate and water? Just because earth life couldn't live their doesn't mean something else couldn't.

Was Mars too salty for life?

steve smyth — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:46:40 GMT

Devan...that's the kind of thinking that we need...Human vanity won't allow our scientific types to recognize something so simple..."life as we know it"...what an arrogant concept, eh?
What the ?"$% do we know about anything?
Every single day I learn something I didn't know just reading here...a lot of it displeases me...but, it reminds me of how much we do not know, and how badly we want to know more.
The best way to know more is to shrug off ideas from the past, and learn without the burden of History.
There is little, or nothing to be learned from History which even comes close to being relevant in today's world.
Forge ahead...

Was Mars too salty for life?

Allen Willyard, Longmont, Colorado — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:39:59 GMT

I find all the exploration of Mars to be fascinating, and want it to continue, but there is one question I have about water on Mars that I have yet to find a satisfactory explanation for, and that is this: If I remember correctly, the atmospheric pressure on Mars is about equal to what it is on Earth at 100,000 feet. That is getting pretty close to the edge of space. So, even if you had a surface temperature high enough to prevent the water from freezing, it is hard for me to see how it would exist in a liquid form at such a low pressure. I would think it would vaporize immediately. Maybe someone out there that knows more than I do can explain this problem. -Allen in Boulder

Was Mars too salty for life?

Chadt, Seattle, WA — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:53:31 GMT

"Crinoid cover up"????

Do we get tinfoil hats with that?

Was Mars too salty for life?

jody white ,newfoundland.canada — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:54:36 GMT

why worry about life somewhere else, when we sould be worry about life on earth . kids starving ,war everywhere, drought.etc.etc all you have to do is look to god to know where life started, and where its goin to end.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Dave Hoffman — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:07:19 GMT

This news means only one thing... 99.99999% of Earth life wouldn't have had a chance of surviving on Mars. So what?

I couldn't live under water, therefore no life could live under water. We all know that statement isn't true, but that's pretty much what these scientists are saying.

Too salty for Earth life? Fine, whatever. Too salty for Martian life? That continues to be unknown. This news changes nothing. People really need to drop the arrogant close-mindedly ignorant thought process of, "If Earth life can't survive there, it's impossible for anything to survive there." Isn't it at all possible that there are OTHER forms of life in the galaxy? Other forms of life that actually couldn't survive on Earth because the chemistry here? Wow, there's a thought.

Was Mars too salty for life?

roger,kentucky — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:15:37 GMT

God or evolution, gave mankind the power to think, to not do so is unforgivable, the civilian or government backed space programs is the largest user and developer of technology that does not require the direct killing of human beings. We need a lot more nasa, esa jaxa and evenchina space and a lot less airforce, nato and military progrems, whether we like it or not life on earth in the future depends on technology, how do you want to get it peaceful exploration or war and destruction, speak out people we need space programs.

Was Mars too salty for life?

john farris,seattle,wa. — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:43:00 GMT

please don't use any of my tax dollars going to mars.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Steven F.Durst, Bayard,WV — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:15:06 GMT

Opinion, theory, hypothesis is not science. Only cold hard undisputable fact can be said to be the truth. We will only have opinions concerning life anywhere but here on good ole mother Earth.

Sadly As I read some of the "opinions" of others here I was very confused as to what a couple were talking about. Dosen't matter....It's only an opinion, not science.

Was Mars too salty for life?

afrozshaik — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:20:30 GMT

there is life on mars.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Martin OBrien Chicago Ill — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:58:30 GMT

MAKE NO and take a restMISTAKE if there was life outside of this planet one would have heard about through the GOOD BOOK so go on home all of you specalators

Was Mars too salty for life?

Martin OBrien Chicago Ill — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:04:49 GMT

only voicing my oppinion perhaps i could put another way by saying no there is nobody else living outside of this planet and i promise not to beat my chest

Was Mars too salty for life?

K, NY — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:28:25 GMT

There is little, or nothing to be learned from History which even comes close to being relevant in today's world.
Forge ahead...

steve smyth

Everything that exists now has been built on all which came before it. The cycles of growth and decline were necessary to pass through for us to be where we are. You can't walk before you learn to crawl. Plus, as cliched as it may sound, it is true that those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. While we certainly need to keep ourselves from being mired in the past to the point where no forward progress is possible, the past still deserves to be studied and respected. In fact, in some areas we need to look at ways of melding old techniques with newer ones to help preserve our earthly home.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Greg Martin, Bethesda MD — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:05:59 GMT

Earthlife would not have liked such a salty environment; but Mars life found it very comfy. The martians would wonder how earth life could thrive with so LITTLE salt.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Gene Dozier Salem, Or. — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:41:40 GMT

Nice pictures!! Makes me a little homesick to see the old plateau again. Nice to know that it hasn't changed
in all the years since I left.There is truly no place
like home.(sniff) Thanks NASA!

Was Mars too salty for life?

leh santa paula calif — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:54:12 GMT

theres no way humans can evade the inevitable collapse of the solar system/galaxy/universe...Gods words will prevail...that said...arent we spending more money on a fruitless effort...than is required to solve the homeless problem ? Im an adventurer as much as the next guy but the sheer logistics of a space outposts is mindblowing plus the benefit of such is almost nil...yet thats a better expenditure than public health care or homeless housing...where are the actual "gop" for the people...its a good way to go when we have resolved our planet killing issues first...we are killing this planet why spread the disease...

Was Mars too salty for life?

Delmar Fairchild, Barron, WI — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:44:15 GMT

On the web and elsewhere are stories of possible life on other planets. We read where the laws of Chemistry and mathmatics are essential to life and to shapes. Also on these various web sites we are finding that the universe has the same elements and laws throughout. With that, all life will have similar beginnings and evolutionary results. Most primitive life forms stay in one spot and have the liquid move nutrients to them, while some float through the liquid. Others more advanced, move in liquid with their appendages. To move on land, these appendages must evolve into more solid and stronger legs. Whether they are two legs or many, they will be similar to what we have here on Earth. When we find ancient life on mars, we may not see any appendages due to life there not evolving to the next stage. But on some other planet, we may find life that is not altogether different that what we experience here on Earth due to these same basic laws of Chemistry and mathmatics. Some people would think that this would not be very interesting, (to find life similar to ours), but to find out the laws do exist elsewhere and are the same would be the most interesting fact we could ever find. It would lead us to discover what the universe really is and why we are here.

Was Mars too salty for life?

john cushard cincinnati, ohio — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:57:04 GMT

OK they found water...
found a pond?
enought breeze to create waves on the pond
found more water
silt deposites indicate running water
I think the pictures are fake
darn next I'll start doubting the Moon Landing
if Howard Hughes were still alive the photos would be better.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Bob DeRom — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:28:01 GMT

I'm just wondering, what are the religious fanatics and skeptics out there going to say if life, or better yet, INTELLIGENT life, shows up one day? Lemme guess..."They're evil! Kill them all!" or 'Oh yeah, I knew there was life out there all along..." Times ticking away folks...study the facts, and pick a side.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Guy S. Newell — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:01:10 GMT

Whoooa! I agree. Tin hats all around. Something or someone is definitely affecting our thinking on this issue. The only one who'e thinking clearly here is Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD. The rest of you need to settle down and breath deeply for a while.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Josh, Charleston, SC — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:18:20 GMT

Alan, in response to your question about liquid water on Mars and how it would be possible:

Mars has no magnetosphere like Earth does. Earth's special protection helps keep solar winds from blasting bits of our atmosphere out into space. Mars, in its earlier life, is believed to have had a much thicker atmosphere than today. Therefore, it would have been much easier for water to exist at some point in its past. Throughout the eons since then, Mars has lost much of its ancient atmosphere.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Luke Lloyd, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:34:36 GMT

Creation Science: The Science of Creating? A seed came into existence by random chance??? Can someone intelligent build me a concrete block that will grow into a skyscraper. Someday we will, it's called reverse engineering a seed. I have provided a link for those with an inkling of insight and would like to know the persecuted Intelligent Design side of the story.

Late Heavy Bombardment? Nice catch up theory, you guys are almost there. Is there any theory that has predicted accurately the type of destruction and matter found on Mars and our solar system? Um YA there is. Ya bunch of newbs learn 2 learn.

Could all the money be going to creation science because Intelligent Design predictions are proving to be correct and as such Intelligent people are placing their bets on Intelligence? Whereas evolution must create ether, and magical black matter ooooo cast a black energy spell on me too why don't ya. Pls stop insulting our collective intelligence and lrn2read newbs.

Dear Alan Boyle I double dog super infinitely dare you to a scientific debate with Dr. Walt Brown. The debate should be limited to scientific evidence and not include religion.

http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/index.html

Was Mars too salty for life?

K.Gary, Chicago, Il. — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 20:24:37 GMT

The obvious answer would be NO to life on the surface of Mars. The Solar radiation from our sun and other entities in space would ahave prevented any form of life, as we no it, to exist at this present moment. Maybe there is some type of bacteria existing. These discoveries could have profound effects on futher medicines and other. The only real good reason at this time would be to explore for resources to bring home. Then maybe we would have the resources needed to colonize other planets and solar systems. Titan for instance has a huge abundance of energy supplies. We wouldnt need the middle east garbage any more.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Todd, Billerica, Ma — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:01:27 GMT

When trying to compare life that evolved on Earth with the possibility of ancient life having developed on Mars, all our scientists have to compare with is life on Earth. Once we find the first extra-terrestrial life forms (maybe under the ice of Europa) our understanding will grow. I don't think the scientists were trying to state that life on ancient Mars was impossible, just that it is unlikely based on what we know of lifeforms on Earth.

A very accurate scientific answer.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Kip,Columbia SC — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:06:04 GMT

Hey, Martin OBrien. How about the people on the space station? Last I heard , they weren't on the planet.

Was Mars too salty for life?

ender, salem, oregon — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:06:26 GMT

plz do remember this is science and not religious. if you are speaking of religious background then you need not be here at all. i beleive you must keep an open mind to all possibilities of life on mars and any where else in the universe. it is this simple 1) we happened 2)thousands of planets 3)you do the possibilities.....

Was Mars too salty for life?

Jason W Austin, Tx — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:59:26 GMT

Here's an argument that no scientist ever presents. Within the endocrine system of humans is silicone based life. There are living crystals in the endocrine system. Gee, how many planets out there have silicone? How many have water?

The whole concept that alien life must "evolve" on an Earthlike planet is utterly unscientific. In the deepest arctic or the deepesxt oceans exist life that were considered "impossible," much less that life which exists in the places where salt water and fresh water meet. Those life forms can only exist in these meeting places - and they are utterly confounding in the paradigm which this failed archaic line of thinking is based on.

What is alien is alien. Universal Field Theory doesn't exist, so what makes us think(arrogantly, I might add), that we can define the necessities of life. The sun is alive. Plasma in space self replicates. Is reproduction a prerequisite of life? And if so, then there is more plasma based life than all species combined on Earth. Logic trumps scientific dogma.

If you hear a scientist say that there is no life out there or that it couldn't be intelligent or that it never would visit this little rock like Earth ask yourself this question: Are these statements based on the least bit of science or dogmas and grant money requirements? What experiment do these sceptics have in their favor? Any? And if they are sceptics, truly, why do they so unquestioningly follow a truly dogmatic and unscientific paradigm.

NASA has video of a large, undulating "worm" in STS48(or 52 or 53, can't remember off the top of my head), a video that an astronaut thought important enough to focus on for over a minute. The object was luminous and moving(not just an object in motion unacted upon by an outside force - an object moving by its own means), and its body, luminosity, and motion are unlike any space debris or ANYTHING someone can just explain away. Sorry, no lens flair excuses to make up. No reflections. No comets or swamp gas. Find the scientist that proved it WASN'T ALIVE AND LIVING IN SPACE.

Science is its own religion, and it is, in its current dogmatic-corporate formation, a religion poised to choke on self-righteousnesss.

If a scientist says there is no intelligent life out there(or any type of life, for that matter), ask him what "scientific" proof he has. None.

Was Mars too salty for life?

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:03:55 GMT

We won't know for sure how much life did exist there, assuming it did, until we get there ourselves or send something there that can make that judgement for us.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Des Emery, St. Thomas, ON, Canada — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 07:09:50 GMT

Life is ubiquitous on Earth. But all life is carbon-based in construction, uses oxygen for energy transfer (carbon dioxide in and oxygen out for plant life, oxygen in and carbon dioxide out for animal life), and sunlight for energy source. Adaptation has allowed life to develop from simple one-celled organisms to complex multi-celled creatures like us, each step along the way obeying one rule only, which is to ingest, digest, excrete. There is no other form of life on Earth, based on silicon or copper or argon or whatever, simply because no other lifeform is possible, either chemically or mechanically.

All the salt on Mars remains just that, salt, sodium chloride, some other metals, some other gases in combination.

In the early times of the solar system, perhaps there was a fifth planet where the asteroid belt circles the sun. Perhaps that planet was torn apart by the opposing gravities of Jupiter and Mars. Perhaps most of that planet fell toward Sol, intersecting Mars' orbit and pulling most of its early waters away and dumping them on Earth (is Luna the leftovers of that collision?) to make the cradle that sustained life here, after earlier conditions allowed the conception to occur within the warm darkness of chemical reaction fired by unending electrical stimulation. Conception and development are very different pathways, separate but necessary to produce life in its present complexity. Perhaps.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Dr. Zaius — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:34:26 GMT

It's great how religious freaks search the web for such articles as this one for the sole purpose to post a comment about their god almighty and how we are wrong. It's just like when I go searching the web for posts about their god almighty and make comments about how ridiculous it is to believe it. But funny thing is, when I publicly disprove their beliefs, I am chastised for my views. How come they can't be treated the same way?

Was Mars too salty for life?

P. Kimble, Rochester, NY — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:04:55 GMT

From the official NASA website:

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Spirit has this view northward from the position at the north edge of the "Home Plate" plateau where the rover will spend its third Martian winter.

Husband Hill is on the horizon. The dark area in the middle distance is "El Dorado" sand dune field.

Spirit used its panoramic camera (Pancam) to capture this image during the rover's 1,448th Martian day, of sol (Jan. 29, 2008).

This view combines separate images taken through the Pancam filters centered on wavelengths of 753 nanometers, 535 nanometers and 432 nanometers. It is presented in a false-color stretch to bring out subtle color differences in the scene.

As the site states it is in false color.... but what subtle color differences are they referring to?? We have been told by NASA that Mars is rust colored with a pink sky. Here we are shown that it is orange-brown with a light blue sky. If you play with the red brightness in Photoshop one can obtain the "official" color as NASA claims Mars is. Pity there are no portions of the rover in view that one could compare the "colors of the rover" on Mars to the actual colors of the rovers to make ones color adjustments against.

Additionally, if one looks closely enough at the "pond surface" one can discern details "beneath the surface of the pond" Would sand dunes allow one to see details beneath the surface? It has already been proven that there is flowing water on Mars, and that in certain regions of the planet the temperature can be as high as 60F so why not a pond?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Jerry, Alaska — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:28:23 GMT

I would expect the last remnants of a vanishing ocean to be very salty. Imagine Earth's ocean evaporating away. Wouldn't the water, which doesn't evaporate, get saltier and saltier? The very last bits of it would be horribly salty. However, with more water to dilute it, Mars' earlier oceans may not have been that salty.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Don Collingwood — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:10:52 GMT

ender--you are a moron. how can you talk about an open mind when you shut out God all together. you and people like you are in for a rude awakeing when life on this planet ends. you poor souls.

Was Mars too salty for life?

vidyardhi nanduri — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:46:20 GMT

A dogmatic Scientific Society searching for Dormant Energy with a Biological Frame set of Mind.
Oh!Mother Nature ! Can You help when the Spirit of Science at Crossroads ?
Vidyardhi Nanduri
Cosmology World Peace

Was Mars too salty for life?

Paul Scott Anderson, North Vancouver, BC — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:43:04 GMT

It should be remembered that there is still the evidence for earlier, less acidic (and less salty?) water, which left behind the clay mineral deposits, documented by Mars Express. Ray Arvidson of the MER team mentioned this again in this recent December 10, 2007 update:

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20071210a.html

"We see evidence from orbit for clay minerals under the layered sulfate materials," said Ray Arvidson of Washington University in St. Louis, deputy principal investigator for the rovers' science payload. "They indicate less acidic conditions. The big picture appears to be a change from a more open hydrological system, with rainfall, to more arid conditions with groundwater rising to the surface and evaporating, leaving sulfate salts behind."

I've commented about this on the blog, also.

Paul

The Meridiani Journal
a chronicle of planetary exploration
web.mac.com/meridianijournal

Was Mars too salty for life?

Joe, Macomb, MI — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:32:43 GMT

Why do the godbots feel the need to comment on this science blog? There are plenty of religious blogs where they can type praises for Jebus in the comments until their fingers bleed. Please leave these comments for people who wish to respond rationally to the articles.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Randall — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:06:15 GMT

It is interesting but totally useless information and a waste of billions of dollars that could be used to help us survive on earth.
If you want to know how life began invest a couple of dollars and buy a Bible.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Jerry M. Weikle Newport News, Virginia — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 20:48:16 GMT

Jerry in Alaska, wonderful, someone with common sense! The "Scientific Community" at NASA or ESA can postulate ideas all the time, but what about common sense--guess that course isn't a requirement for a Ph. D in Astrobiology.
There isn't any consensus agreement as to what volumn of water composed the ancient oceans on Mars, nor an agreement on the present volumn of water ice under the surface, in caverns, or even in an extinct magma chamber under any one of the volcano's. Therefore, based upon assumption, acidic water could exist underground and carving out extensive underground aquaifers. Alternatively, an extinct magma chamber could have become an underground oasis for life that is based upon chemosynthesis of compounds within thermal vents. As a thought experiment in creativity and critical thinking, to the NASA Ph. D's, try to imagine removing all the magnma from the "Yellowstone" supervolcano and completely fill the cavity with water--either acid or fresh and try to visualise life existing in this oasis for millions of years. It would have some energy, heat from the internal core of the planet, water would exist in liquid form, the above landscape would act as a "plug" or a "cork" on a bottle of vinegar? Did you Ph. D's over there at NASA and ESA forget about vinegar worms? Or do you guys and gals just look at the pretty pictures and try to explain it with what you know. Everyone of you need to go back to school and learn common sense and some creativity workshops as it wouldn't hurt any one of you!

Was Mars too salty for life?

Steve Elliott, Lombard, Il — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:19:29 GMT

Life is abundant every where. I can believe that mars is to salty for earth life, but what about martian life. The life, if there is any, can adapt to the climate and surroundings. Look at the evoultion of man for example. We have made big strides in our evolution, so why cant life on another planet make those changes?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:07:08 GMT

Wow too salty eh?? I'm in 7th grade and this stuff intrigues me when I get bored.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Tammy, Tonopah, NV — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:30:19 GMT

I really enjoy reading about the whole space thing and I Thank God for the people whom are so advance in their field of knowledge. This does make one think about the Creator of all things!!!

Was Mars too salty for life?

Kathy Benison, Mt. Pleasant, MI — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:11:20 GMT

The big question that Knoll has not addressed, but that other scientists are working on is this: Is there life on Earth in very salty and very acidic waters? The answer is yes. There are acid saline lakes in Western Australia with pH 1.5, TDS (total dissolved solids) 300 parts per thousand. As a comparison, seawater has a pH 8.1 and TDS 35 parts per thousand. So, these Western Australian waters are extreme for earth, but likely similar to past shallow surface waters and groundwaters on Mars. These Western Australian acid saline waters contain microorganisms. Therefore, the suggestion that martian waters were too salty and too acidic for life made by Knoll is not well-founded. Check the literature.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Thushanth, Colombo, Srilanka — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:02:05 GMT

Why cant it be that Mars might have salt water creatures

Was Mars too salty for life?

JC, Fairbanks, AK — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:06:56 GMT

The point (and I think its a good one) that martian life could, in fact probably would, be something completely different than what we know is repeatedly made here. And I am surprised by some of the statements coming from scientists, who should know better, about how 'bad for life' their findings may be when they don't know what kind of life they are talking about. In point of fact scientists, including me, are *very well aware* of this Mr. Smyth, the question of what constitutes life is one constantly discussed in such circles. The fact that a handful seem to forgotten that does not change this.

Allen: Yes Mars's surface pressure is only about 6 mBar which is roughly equivalent to 30 km up on Earth (our surface pressure is about 1000mBar). It is therefore *currently* impossible for liquid water to exist for long (it would simultaneously boil and freeze). But there is lots of evidence that Mars once had a much denser atmosphere, and that it had massive amounts of liquid water. But this may have been billions of years ago.... a scientist recently embarrassed himself deeply by making the claim that he saw a pond of water in a rover image, which turned out to be a picture of a cliff face....

The stuff in the crater bottom is dark sand, and NOT water....

As for the 'crinoid cover up', c'mon; conspiracy theories are a dime a dozen, and that sure don't look like no crinoid t'me....just a rock.

There almost surely *was* another planetary object where the asteroid belt is now; the existence of solid iron meteorites tells us this. But the asteroid belt has never contained more than a few percent of an earth-mass of rock and iron . . . how it was broken up is unknown, and that's as far as the story goes.

The subject was Mars, DC. Again, that's *Mars*.

Was Mars too salty for life?

Rick, New Orleans, LA — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:50:35 GMT

Why couldn't there be life? Examples of extremeophiles exist in nearly every corner of our globe. There are micro-organisms that live in the highly acidic very hot geysers in Yellowstone NP. The black smokers at the sea floor are teamining with life. So to simply state that life could not exist becuase of acidity... is absurd to the maximum extent possible. LIFE CAN AND WILL.

Was Mars too salty for life?

jody.CORNER BROOK . NL — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:25:01 GMT

WHY is it that when people are searching for life outside our own planet they don't like it when us god freaks as so put it. makes a comment. but when there lying in bed dying the first thing they cry out for is god .can you answer that one boys or maybe dr.zaius can fill us in with his great wisdom...

Was Mars too salty for life?

ender, salem, oregon — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:33:06 GMT

hmm. How profound of me i am very sorry. i am baptist a a strong believer at that too. i attend church about 2 times a week. Please remember that this is a scientific website; keep an open mind and please just don't bring personal religion into the matter. i believe there are alot of possibilities for mars and yes our poor soul when earth is gone. yet you have to wonder how far will we have spread through out the galaxy? And how much will we really need earth for by that time?

humans are advancing far faster than they use to. we will eventually crack a few more scientific break throughs and a human may be able to live forever who is to dictate the possibilities? lets leave it to the scientist.

Was Mars too salty for life?

cassie brisbane queensland — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:16:07 GMT

how come we think that it is salty but we havent been up there?

Was Mars too salty for life?

Charles Shults, Orlando, Florida — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:36:39 GMT

There is a constant thread from NASA that "everything on Mars was formed billions of years ago and nothing has changed" yet when they claim that the bedrock of Meridiani formed billions of years ago, they are missing a major, obvious flaw in their thinking- look at the sedimentary layers *inside the craters* which are NOT billions of years old (by their own dating system). Those layers are shaped like the crater floor, vary in thickness with the crater cross section, and therefore *must have formed after the crater!* How hard is that to see, even for a rock collector? It is very disappointing that so many inconsistencies appear in the statements from the "authorities" (like the peroxide claims). It is chemically and physically impossible for hydrogen peroxide to exist in Martian soil because of the presence of iron sulfate salt- duh! Th two chemicals explode on contact, and NASA has clearly stated that iron sulfate is about 20% of the soil. So who do you trust when they screw up both geology AND chemistry?