LOS ANGELES, June 26, 2008

Lander Finds Conditions For Life On Mars

Spacecraft Runs Taste Test On Soil, Finds Salty Environment Near Mars' North Pole

  • This photo released by NASA shows four Wet Chemistry Laboratory units, part of the microscopy, electrochemistry and conductivity analyzer, instrument on board the Phoenix Mars Lander on Aug. 4, 2007, before the Phoenix was launched into space. The Phoenix lander's first taste test of soil near Mars' north pole reveals a briny environment similar to what can be found in backyards on Earth, scientists said Thursday. Photo

    This photo released by NASA shows four Wet Chemistry Laboratory units, part of the microscopy, electrochemistry and conductivity analyzer, instrument on board the Phoenix Mars Lander on Aug. 4, 2007, before the Phoenix was launched into space. The Phoenix lander's first taste test of soil near Mars' north pole reveals a briny environment similar to what can be found in backyards on Earth, scientists said Thursday.  (AP Photo/NASA/JPL/CalTech)

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(AP)  The Phoenix lander's first taste test of soil near Mars' north pole reveals a briny environment similar to what can be found in backyards on Earth, scientists said Thursday.

The finding raises hope that the Martian arctic plains could have conditions favorable for primitive life. Phoenix landed a month ago to study the habitability of Mars' northern latitudes.

"There's nothing about it that would preclude life. In fact, it seems very friendly," mission scientist Samuel Kounaves of Tufts University said of the soil. "There's nothing about it that's toxic."

Phoenix so far has not detected organic carbon considered an essential building block of life. Last week, the lander found evidence of ice below the soil. Scientists generally agree that liquid water, a stable energy source and organic, or carbon-containing, compounds are required for a habitable zone.

The latest experiment was designed to test for minerals that do not have carbon in them. Earlier this week, Phoenix's 8-foot-long robotic arm delivered a pinch of dirt dug up from near the surface to its onboard lab.

Like a chemist, the spacecraft mixed the soil with water brought from Earth into a beaker the size of a teacup and stirred it. Sensors inside the beaker detect the soil's pH and probe for traces of the nutrients.

Preliminary results showed the soil had a pH between 8 and 9, researchers said. A pH less than 7 means the solution is acidic, while a pH over 7 means it is alkaline. Phoenix also detected the presence of magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride in the mixture.

"It's very typical of the soil here on Earth minus the organics," Kounaves said during a teleconference from Tucson, Arizona.

On Earth, asparagus, green beans and turnips could be planted in such an environment and chemical-loving bacteria would thrive there, he said.

Planetary scientist David Paige of the University of California, Los Angeles, said it is too early to tell whether the minerals found in the soil could support life. Paige, who had no role in the mission, said the find was not surprising because rocks weather over time and bits of minerals mix with the soil.

"There are a lot of outstanding questions about the composition of the soil," he said.

Mission scientists said another experiment that heated the soil to high temperatures and sniffed the gas found traces of water vapor.

"This soil clearly has interacted with water in the past," said William Boynton of the University of Arizona.

The heating experiment, which was designed to look for organics, did not yield conclusive evidence of carbon. Scientists planned to study another soil sample taken from further below the surface.


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Add a Comment See all 37 Comments
by lovesamerica June 27, 2008 1:06 AM EDT
Quick!!! lets do exploratory oil drilling!!!!
Reply to this comment
by sistatee-2009 June 27, 2008 1:14 AM EDT
Is there anybody there to TAX!
Reply to this comment
by barbaraf4 June 27, 2008 1:16 AM EDT
It doesn''t matter how much lipstick we put on this pig, it is still just a cash cow for NASA (sorry about the mixed metaphor). We will never be able to sustain life on Mars.
Reply to this comment
by smurfcrusher June 27, 2008 1:29 AM EDT
Bring your own limes, Dragonwagon! hahahahaha! ;)
Reply to this comment
by smurfcrusher June 27, 2008 1:33 AM EDT
Mortal3: "...Mars dirt is very much like any other dirt. Glad we spent millions to find that out. "

This is hugely important. It means that we can use Martian soil to grow crops in the distant future, essential if we ever choose to move people there.

It will not be easy, for example greenhouses would need to be pressurized, and many mirrors used to collect enough light for photosynthesis. But in time, with robotics, I''m sure we will see underground living quarters there, and a permanent, growing settlement. Probably within a few centuries, would be my guess.
Reply to this comment
by lovesamerica June 27, 2008 1:42 AM EDT
Yeah, lets wreck another planet
Reply to this comment
by sharncedar June 27, 2008 2:42 AM EDT
f they had found some gold maybe we cold use it to pay off the HUGE NATIONAL DEBT from this ridiculous money-wasting expedition.

People, we can''t even colonize the frickin Sahara desert, which is an oxygen-rich mild-weathered paradise compared with Mars. We can''t even keep our pathetic little civilization alive. We are pathetic monkeys, tiny little animals who can''t stop breeding and grasping after eachother''s property and fighting here on earth, like a whole batch of miserable cockroaches fighting over a dried-up ***, let''s stop the grandiose arrogance. We will soon perish from the earth in our ignorance and good riddance.
Reply to this comment
by downtowner97 June 27, 2008 3:47 AM EDT
We may have just introduced life to Mars. Presumably, some spores in and on the probe survived the radiation of space, and will fall off and plant themselves at this site on Mars. We may go back in a decade and find mold and mildew spreading for a mile in every direction from the landing site.
Reply to this comment
by yongamerica June 27, 2008 4:13 AM EDT
HUGE NATIONAL DEBT from this ridiculous money-wasting expedition. Posted by SharnCedar

I agree, this means there is that less money to spend on the war in Iraq. Heck, all the money they spent of this project could have supported the operation of a UAV 2 F-16 Falcons and a refueling tanker for 1 day.

Heck, maybe we should have given this money to the rich in the form of a tax break?

Or is this science disturbing because it somehow further disproves creationism?
Reply to this comment
by zerosum2009 June 27, 2008 4:31 AM EDT
I am having trouble believing that with a little desire--this spacecraft could not have some small measurement it could take--that would, for instance, attempt to microphotograph cells.

I honestly wonder if it isn''t a matter of national security to in fact find out sooner rather than later if there is or was life on Mars--
because, if you plug a yes into the drake equation--it actually points in the direction of ...visitors to THIS planet being...likely.

Would they tell us that???
Reply to this comment
by downtowner97 June 27, 2008 5:09 AM EDT
I think the fact that hydrothermal vent creatures are so completely different from animals on the surface disproves the existence of God. How could Adam and Eve name something that''s a mile below the surface of the ocean, and how did giant tube worms walk up the plank and onto the Ark?
Reply to this comment
by zerosum2009 June 27, 2008 6:57 AM EDT
I am having trouble believing that with a little desire--this spacecraft could not have some small measurement it could take--that would, for instance, attempt to microphotograph cells.

I honestly wonder if it isn''''t a matter of national security to in fact find out sooner rather than later if there is or was life on Mars--
because, if you plug a yes into the drake equation--it actually points in the direction of ...visitors to THIS planet being...likely.

Would they tell us that???

Reply to this comment
by feelfree4u June 27, 2008 6:59 AM EDT

Re: "Lander Finds Conditions For Life On Mars"

Why not launch our "representative" leaders there, and let them give it a go?
Reply to this comment
by guadalcanal3 June 27, 2008 7:15 AM EDT
Mortal3 reg. your 8:46 PM post...You just don''t get it do you?...This news is outstanding news...It means that we can plant crops and terra-form the planet....Someday colonists on Mars will be reading about how pundits like you tried to stop it from all happening. (because you thought it was just worthless dirt.)
Reply to this comment
by midwife4 June 27, 2008 8:23 AM EDT
I agree, this was a huge waste of money. Lets take of earth, it''s rich in everything that supports life, while Mars is sterile...and who needs to spend billions to bring back martian soil to grow potatoes? No...I don''t get the experiment and I don''t think we need outer space experiments. Earth is beautiful.
Reply to this comment
by rafterman1 June 27, 2008 9:35 AM EDT
===f they had found some gold maybe we cold use it to pay off the HUGE NATIONAL DEBT from this ridiculous money-wasting expedition.===
posted by SharnCedar

If we wait for all of Earth''s problems to be solved first before going into space, then we will never go. It''s a ridiculous excuse. Some day, a giant asteroid or a "super bug" will wipe out all life on Earth and we will have no one out there to carry on the human race. Going to Mars, escpecially a manned mission, will give us the experience we need to set up colonies and ensure that the human race will have a greater chance at survival. Besides, it is the human nature to explore the unknown. If we don''t explore, we aren''t human anymore.

There are plenty of wasteful expenditures here on Earth to cut (the useless Iraq war for example) before cutting useful things like space exploration. In fact, we could send an entire colony to Mars for what the Iraq war alone will cost us.

Reply to this comment
by barbaraf4 June 27, 2008 10:36 AM EDT
"We may have just introduced life to Mars. Presumably, some spores in and on the probe survived the radiation of space, and will fall off and plant themselves at this site on Mars. We may go back in a decade and find mold and mildew spreading for a mile in every direction from the landing site." Posted by downtowner97
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think I saw this in a movie.
Reply to this comment
by gentryfunk-2009 June 27, 2008 11:16 AM EDT
For those claiming that the trip to Mars is a money-wasting trip....previous space exploration has produced the following benefits to human society directly impacting YOUR life:

Pacemakers
Velcro
metal alloy used for braces (Nitinol)
scratch resistant lenses for glasses
implantable insulin pump
water purification systems in most cities
rubber compound used in tennis and running shoes
golf ball aerodynamics
digital imaging (CCDs in Digital Cameras)

Just to name a few....

Reply to this comment
by barbaraf4 June 27, 2008 12:26 PM EDT
"Just to name a few...." Posted by gentryfunk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just think how much more we could have accomplished if we had spent those research dollars here at home instead of spending money to get to outer space.
Reply to this comment
by acolton1 June 27, 2008 1:02 PM EDT
Great now what can Mars do for Earth to lower Gas prices.
Reply to this comment
by bluestardad June 27, 2008 1:11 PM EDT
WHAT A WASTE OF PRIORITIES!
Reply to this comment
by rf35 June 27, 2008 1:11 PM EDT
If no organics are found, it would seem to indicate that Mars is and was lifeless. In that case, it would be worth our while to begin seeding the planet with algae, various microbes, and appropriate plants. To get the whole thing going would require finding, melting, or sending liquid water, but hopefully the signs of liquid water in the not-so-distant past indicates that this would not be too difficult. Considering the technology likely to be developed in the next 50 years or so, it would then be feasible to start sending manned missions to further get the terraforming under way. By the time we could reasonably expect to send the first colonists, Earth%u2019s population will be pushing us to the verge of extinction due to complete consumption of available resources and lack of sufficient food/drinkable water. Unless some mass catastrophe causes the die-off of about 5 billion people in the near future. That would buy us centuries before returning to the present state.
Reply to this comment
by prelgovisk June 27, 2008 1:38 PM EDT
Terraforming Mars and using it as a plan to ease overpopulation of the earth will not work. England felt it was over populated, but the opening up of America and Australia did nothing to relieve what Scrooge called, "The surplus population." Historically, new worlds have done nothing to ease the overpopulation of the old.

The new colonies may prosper and the old ones decline, but do not look for population relief by sending the surplus population to Mars.
Reply to this comment
by extremophil June 27, 2008 1:47 PM EDT
You guys are SO right about the waste of money. I mean, just think if Columbus'' 1492 voyage had been cancelled and the money put to better use back at home.....like feeding the poor and buying more leeches for health care.
Reply to this comment
by rf35 June 27, 2008 1:49 PM EDT
The new colonies may prosper and the old ones decline, but do not look for population relief by sending the surplus population to Mars.

Posted by Prelgovisk at 10:38 AM : Jun 27, 2008

Agreed, but with a colony or two on Mars, the human race will at least survive. The human population will eventually reach a point where we will cause our own extinction (on Earth).
Reply to this comment
by sistatee-2009 June 27, 2008 2:13 PM EDT
Terraforming Mars will not work any better than it did on LV427.
Reply to this comment
by rf35 June 27, 2008 2:24 PM EDT
Terraforming Mars will not work any better than it did on LV427.

Posted by SistaTee at 11:13 AM : Jun 27, 2008

ROFLMAO!
Reply to this comment
by enlightenu June 27, 2008 2:36 PM EDT
We may have just introduced life to Mars. Presumably, some spores in and on the probe survived the radiation of space, and will fall off and plant themselves at this site on Mars. We may go back in a decade and find mold and mildew spreading for a mile in every direction from the landing site.

Posted by downtowner97 at 12:47 AM : Jun 27, 2008

And then a billion years from now that life will evolve into intelligent beings who will argue over where they came from. The debate will cause a split between the Phoenixians and the Nasamites and they will kill eachother over it and lay waste to the planet.
Reply to this comment
by bdrlnt4rl June 27, 2008 2:52 PM EDT
enlightenu

its a terrible cycle. the people on mars did the same thing to earth, now, we are back on mars, doing to same thing on mars, next, we will be back on earth doing the same thing on mars, then we will be back doing the same thing on earth.........
Reply to this comment
by fstop100 June 27, 2008 3:02 PM EDT
Nothing new, Marvin has lived there for years.
Maybe we should ask him to help with the crisis on earth.
Reply to this comment
by anappleadae June 27, 2008 3:04 PM EDT
Pessimism is endemic here. One might get the feeling most of you thrive on the negative. You must be a bunch of carb devouring couch posting paranoids.
Reply to this comment
by bdrlnt4rl June 27, 2008 3:55 PM EDT
anappleadae

sounds like silly sarcasm to me. not paranoid comments, maybe on some, but think about it, people are very hollywood educated. to much imagination movies are being watched. hollywood is the terrorist of the people
Reply to this comment
by rf35 June 27, 2008 4:50 PM EDT
Nothing new, Marvin has lived there for years.
Maybe we should ask him to help with the crisis on earth.

Posted by fstop100 at 12:02 PM : Jun 27, 2008

He would just take out Earth with his Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator.

bdrlnt4rl, *** is an "imagination movie?" Isn''t that the point? Or do you only watch documentaries?
Reply to this comment
by bdrlnt4rl June 27, 2008 5:25 PM EDT
rf35

i will say it a little different. people are too hollywood educated, meaning the watch too many movies and get their education from watching imagination. fiction, people are disillusioned by too much hollywood imagination.

and yes, that is the point, imagination. but too many people take as reality. and yes, i would rather watch documentaries only because i get bored sitting thru movies. ''add'', ya know
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by citizenusa-2009 June 27, 2008 6:01 PM EDT
I wonder if the Martians would like a couple of "experienced" earth leaders..I know of a couple that are gonna be out of a job by Novemember. I''m sure we can find a couple of old space suits lying around that might fit the "The Decider, The Puppeteer, and Bush''s Brain"....(note to self...don''t forget Condi...must repopulate the Republican party.....heh, heh, heh,
Reply to this comment
by rf35 June 27, 2008 6:38 PM EDT
bdrlnt4rl,
Roger that. The so-called "reality TV," which is anything but, doesn''t help. I prefer the Discovery and History channels myself.
Reply to this comment
by demwatcher June 29, 2008 10:10 PM EDT
"I wonder if the Martians would like a couple of "experienced" earth leaders..I know of a couple that are gonna be out of a job by Novemember. I''''m sure we can find a couple of old space suits lying around that might fit the "The Decider, The Puppeteer, and Bush''''s Brain"....(note to self...don''''t forget Condi...must repopulate the Republican party.....heh, heh, heh,

Posted by CitizenUSA at 03:01 PM : Jun 27, 2008"

It is really a shame how your hate and ignorance pervades every aspect of your waking life. If you call that a life.
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