Home

THIS IS IT! Life on Mars

Tue, 02/27/2001 - 12:46 — charlie.collins

For all of the years of hype and probability the quest for life on mars has been fruitless: until now. A recent "team of international researchers" have discovered "compelling evidence that the magnetite crystals in the martian meteorite ALH84001 are of
biological origin."

This is MONUMENTAL step in exoscience and astronomy. The implication confirms many theorists beliefs that life is possible on other planets under certain conditions that we are now beginning to understand more fully (not that this was much in doubt, the theories are very solid, but in science after all the proof is all that ultimately matters.)

The implications are far ranging. Check the details via the links. (Thanks to BBC for the lead.)   NASA: Evidence of Life on MARS

Comments

Tue, 02/27/2001 - 20:24 — jheimann (not verified)

Re: THIS IS IT! Life on Mars

Or is it? There is also some contrary evidence that says these magnetite crystals may not have been formed biologically. For instance, researchers disregarded many magnetite crystals in the same meteorite that clearly weren't made by bacteria. Also, to say that the only possible way the crystals could have been made is by life processes is jumping to a pretty big conclusion.

Exciting, yes. Another link in the puzzle, definitely. What does it mean though? WE GOTTA SEND PEOPLE TO FRIGGIN' MARS. I'm sick of all this robot crap.

I would gladly give up a percentage of Bush's tax cuts for a manned human mission to Mars.

Wed, 02/28/2001 - 04:12 — atrox (not verified)

Re: THIS IS IT! Life on Mars

there is some detraction, and yes we have been here before, but this time the evidence is much more compelling. this is pretty clear evidence, not speculation, that these life forms are extra terrestrial and were formed biologically.

i agree with the trip, we need to focus a lot more money on science and less on the military and other crap. again, our thinking is very short sighted but science rules our modern lives in all aspects.

Wed, 02/28/2001 - 04:41 — Billy (not verified)

Re: THIS IS IT! Life on Mars

I think we should first focus on proving the existence of life on earth.

Thu, 03/01/2001 - 05:18 — cooper (not verified)

HOLY @!#$ (was Re: THIS IS IT! Life on Mars)

This is truely amazing. While I agree that sending people to Mars should be a MORAL imperitive, I don't know that it would settle this issue conclusively unless we find living organisms there, microbiological fossils whether in a meteorite or on the surface will almost alway be in dispute.

However, coupling this with the recent discovery of extra-Solar planets inside the habitable zone of their respective stars might actually imply that there are -- perhaps event pletifully -- extra-Solar lifeforms out there, and *that* is cool.Billy

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.