A step closer to life on Mars

[Thor]

Nasa gives us guarded hope, but they have a hard time hiding their excitement.

In early 2003, a plume of methane gas rose from the surface of Mars.




The big unanswered question: what belched?
Subsurface Martian cows appear unlikely, but scientists are seriously considering the possibility that bacteria are generating the methane.
A team of researchers reported Thursday that methane emissions on Mars appear to come in large, brief bursts and that in 2003, the bursts originated from three specific regions in the northern hemisphere, where it was midsummer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/sc...mars.html?_r=1

[photon]

I can't even begin to imagine the kind of science that could be done if there was life found on Mars. To be able to compare with our own kind of life here would be amazing.

[Thor]

We would get soooo much insight into how life begins, commonalities, would these bacteria have rna or something similar, etc.. So damn cool, too bad the theory is a deep drilling operation to get to the possible life.

Certainly makes me really optimistic that life could be found in the frozen moon of I think it was Triton which has an ocean and possibly the basics needed for life.

If nothing, confirmation on Mars and finding something different say on Triton would radically change our understanding of life, and change the idea that you need very specific conditions for life to begin.

Edit, it was Europa which I was thinking of:

http://www.solarviews.com/germ/europa.htm

[missdpuck]

Mars needs women.

[HOZ]

Martians....we come in peace. Now surrender!

[Thor]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Martians....we come in peace. Now surrender!

Just to be safe we could launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike, just tell Bush before he leaves in a few days there's Al Quieda training camps there.

[jammies]

Bugs: Eh, pardon me again, Doc, but, uh, just what did you mean by that crack about the Earth being gone?
Marvin the Martian: Oh, I'm going to blow it up; it obstructs my view of Venus.

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

That's all I got.

[troutman]

IIRC, methane has been detected on other worlds, and would not necessarily indicate life.

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6743

March 19, 2008

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has made the first detection ever of an organic molecule in a planet orbiting another star. This breakthrough is an important step in eventually identifying signs of life on a planet outside our solar system.

The telltale signature of the molecule methane in the atmosphere of the Jupiter-sized extrasolar planet HD 189733b has been found with the Hubble Space Telescope. Under the right circumstances methane can play a key role in prebiotic chemistry, the chemical reactions considered necessary to form life as we know it. Although methane has been detected on most of the planets in our solar system, this is the first time any organic molecule has been detected on a world orbiting another star.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by troutman

IIRC, methane has been detected on other worlds, and would not necessarily indicate life.

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6743

March 19, 2008

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has made the first detection ever of an organic molecule in a planet orbiting another star. This breakthrough is an important step in eventually identifying signs of life on a planet outside our solar system.

The telltale signature of the molecule methane in the atmosphere of the Jupiter-sized extrasolar planet HD 189733b has been found with the Hubble Space Telescope. Under the right circumstances methane can play a key role in prebiotic chemistry, the chemical reactions considered necessary to form life as we know it. Although methane has been detected on most of the planets in our solar system, this is the first time any organic molecule has been detected on a world orbiting another star.

True, however in a seemingly inactive volcanic planet as in Mars the methane which seems to bloom tends towards organic over geological or otherwise. Not to say its overly strong evidence, its a big target on the areas of the bloom for further missions to investigate.

Thats why I worded it 'Guarded Enthusiasm' for Nasa since they felt a bit silly after the Mars rocks they thought showed possible fossilized life in the rock.

Methane is a end product of bio activity and is most often part of volcanic and geological activity. So that is where 'most' of our solar system gets its methane, Mars, is hopefully the one bio example.

Sure hope we know in our lifetimes!

[Swifty]

We're going to need to set up shop there soon.

Earth is 65 million years overdue for a major asteroid impact.

[Hemi-Cuda]

didn't they already confirm the existence of life on Mars awhile back with the discovery of some bacteria fossils?

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

didn't they already confirm the existence of life on Mars awhile back with the discovery of some bacteria fossils?

That was what I mentioned previous, it was a mistake, and thats the famous Clinton speech where he mentioned what 'could be' the biggest discovery in our history, used in the movie Contact famously.

[flylock shox]

So... after thousands and thousands of years of mankind looking to the heavens and wondering if we are alone in the universe, all our wildest imaginings may be confirmed by one big Martian fart?

That would be awesome beyond all known awesomeness.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

So... after thousands and thousands of years of mankind looking to the heavens and wondering if we are alone in the universe, all our wildest imaginings may be confirmed by one big Martian fart?

That would be awesome beyond all known awesomeness.

What would be even more terrific, if possible, is IF the Pope commented on this 'life' and that it was part of gods plan.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Thor

If nothing, confirmation on Mars and finding something different say on Triton would radically change our understanding of life, and change the idea that you need very specific conditions for life to begin.

Edit, it was Europa which I was thinking of:

http://www.solarviews.com/germ/europa.htm

You might have been thinking of Saturn's moon Titan, which has a relatively thick atmosphere with a similar pressure to that of Earth's made up of mostly methane gas. Next to Europa it has probably the highest probability of any other body in our solar system of sustaining life. Neptune's moon Triton might be next.

Caveat: it's been a while since I've corroborated my so-called facts.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Thor

.. So damn cool, too bad the theory is a deep drilling operation to get to the possible life.

send in these guys

[CaptainCrunch]

Look we need to get to mars right away, and exploit it.

We could solve our garbage issues by building landfills, our heating issues by drilling for methane, and our money issues by building amusement parks.

Its all there waiting for us people, lets go get rich.

[czure32]

Do not run, we are your friends!

[atb]

There is a side which suggests finding life on Mars could be bad news for us because of the "Great Filter". It's an interesting read:

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/id..._dread_planet/

http://hanson.gmu.edu/greatfilter.html

[HotHotHeat]

Originally Posted by Thor

We would get soooo much insight into how life begins, commonalities, would these bacteria have rna or something similar, etc.. So damn cool, too bad the theory is a deep drilling operation to get to the possible life.

Certainly makes me really optimistic that life could be found in the frozen moon of I think it was Triton which has an ocean and possibly the basics needed for life.

If nothing, confirmation on Mars and finding something different say on Triton would radically change our understanding of life, and change the idea that you need very specific conditions for life to begin.

Edit, it was Europa which I was thinking of:

http://www.solarviews.com/germ/europa.htm

We know how life began. A curious man and his lonely sister in a garden full of fruit. Almost sounds like a Herbal Essence commercial.

Seriously though, really interesting stuff. I know nothing of this subject so I'll stop talking there.