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Space & Astronomy

Is Mars now too dry for life to survive ?

By T.K. Randall
February 4, 2012 · Comment icon 9 comments

Image Credit: NASA/JPL
Scientists believe 600 million years of drought have rendered the Martian surface totally devoid of life.
Despite some wetter periods the surface has been so dry for so long that it seems impossible that life can survive there. "We think the Mars we know today contrasts sharply with its earlier history, which had warmer and wetter periods and which may have been more suited to life," said Dr Tom Pike. "Future NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) missions that are planned for Mars will have to dig deeper to search for evidence of life, which may still be taking refuge underground."
Analysis of soil from the red planet found that its surface had been dry for such a long time that any life would have to be lurking deep underground.


Source: Telegraph | Comments (9)

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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by angi chiesa 13 years ago
no water could mean not possible to colonise this near planet.Maybe water in a deep well.
Comment icon #2 Posted by kwin 13 years ago
Interesting, Someone has Martian soil to analyze..... Do these 'scientists' analyze their own photos too?
Comment icon #3 Posted by spud the mackem 13 years ago
Where do the scientists get the time period of 600 million years from ? or is this figure picked out of a hat?and are they saying that previous to that figure,all was well and Martians were hopping about.Are they telling us everything or once again is it on a "need to know" basis !!
Comment icon #4 Posted by spud the mackem 13 years ago
Hi,do you honestly believe that Mars only had about 5000 years of warm period in its history,I really cannot believe this given the whole life of the planet,maybe its not habitable now but there must of been a period exceeding 5000 yrs,where there was an atmosphere and Mars still has water,Maybe they are looking in the wrong place ?.If an Alien ship landed in the Sahara or some other desert where our life forms are minimum,would they think that life here is restricted to a few insects and snakes?.I dont think that we have the technology to explore other planets properly yet,but maybe we are ge... [More]
Comment icon #5 Posted by Hybrid89 13 years ago
You know what, it'll always be a need to know basis. If theres ever a case where the actual truth does get out, it'll be seen as hocus pocus bunkum even thought it could be true. Internet ftw :S
Comment icon #6 Posted by Device 13 years ago
Nevermind drawing conclusions from tiny little soil samples. They should send a comprehensive archeologoical mission of rovers or astronauts up there and really get to the bottom of it.
Comment icon #7 Posted by psyche101 13 years ago
Hi,do you honestly believe that Mars only had about 5000 years of warm period in its history,I really cannot believe this given the whole life of the planet,maybe its not habitable now but there must of been a period exceeding 5000 yrs,where there was an atmosphere and Mars still has water,Maybe they are looking in the wrong place ?.If an Alien ship landed in the Sahara or some other desert where our life forms are minimum,would they think that life here is restricted to a few insects and snakes?.I dont think that we have the technology to explore other planets properly yet,but maybe we are ge... [More]
Comment icon #8 Posted by psyche101 13 years ago
You know what, it'll always be a need to know basis. If theres ever a case where the actual truth does get out, it'll be seen as hocus pocus bunkum even thought it could be true. Internet ftw :S Or alternatively, one could simply log into NASA to stay abreast of new developments. LINK - NASA Mars Exploration Programs
Comment icon #9 Posted by spud the mackem 13 years ago
Why must the estimate be wrong? What have you seen, theorised, or know that makes the 5,000 year time frame unlikely? If an alien ship landed in the Sahara, it would be pretty hard to fathom how it could come to the conclusion that this is a dune planet when it would see a blue marble on approach. Of course we will look deeper at Mars, and the moon for that matter, but I do not see why you think we will find life, or proof of life if we do. It's a very big maybe. I haven't seen anything to disprove the 5000 year period but planets dont work in thousand year periods,they work in million year pe... [More]


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