Something on Mars is generating complex organic molecules. These are rapidly destroyed by the highly oxidising conditions on Mars. Their existance can only be explained by some mechanism that continuously replenishes them.
]]>Scientists propose Ceres sample return mission
https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/miss … n-mission/
Panspermia is the hypothesis, first proposed in the 5th century BC by the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras, that life exists throughout the Universe, distributed by space dust, meteoroids, asteroids, comets, and planetoids, as well as by spacecraft carrying unintended contamination by microorganisms.
Anyone truly interested in astro-biochemistry needs to read some of the scientific articles from this gentleman's research:
http://scrippsscholars.ucsd.edu/jbada
Professor Bada has continued the work of Stanley Miller, and Harold Urey.
]]>I am not sure I agree about the never of the presumption.
I have read that at any one time there are "Ice" windows of significance where solar heating could allow micro habitats suitable to life.
Also, dust devils are after all thought to be electric. I have previously speculated that they might discharge into the ground an cause a temporary melt of "Mud". On Earth lightning can melt sand. Why not permafrost in the subsurface of Mars?
Also, although it seems repugnant to life for there to be such a low atmospheric pressure, combined with low humidity, and saltiness, and massive temperature fluctuations, I believe that the combination provides an avenue for life in the near surface.
For instance a salt deposit under a thin rock, might attract moisture from the atmosphere, or from the grounds humidity. The cycling of day/solar and night/radiate might cause a freeze thaw under the rock. This in turn might separate the briny fluid into temporary parts, some very salty, and some less salty, and perhaps fresh enough for life to drink from it. The day might bring the temperature of the fresher fluid up to -10 or so, which is in the area where metabolism can be significant in Earth life forms.
Then there are salt pans, where in certain parts of the seasons, it is speculated that the temperature and humidity could support certain Earth life forms.
And then it seems that Mars exited an "Ice Age" it has been said 400, 000 years ago. In that era, the ice was held at the equator, and not the poles, I presume by the tilt of the planet. They do not say what happened to the CO2 which is currently held in the southern ice cap. My point is that I think that Mars on it's own, can and has had temporary elevations in surface pressure and temperatures, and also humidity, in the "Recent" past, which could have improved conditions for extreme life. It is said that the CO2 in the southern ice cap if evaporated could elevate the pressure to 11 mb, and this would allow actual snowfall, and that snow would be able to melt, and form temporary streams.
And finally it seems that they are now saying that Mars had cold lakes far beyond the wet period of it's early life. Those came from snow melts. This suggests a prolonged time where the Earth and Mars could have swapped life types.
So, in my opinion the hopes of a biosphere which could emerge back to surface are enhanced, as many below surface life forms might retain abilities to deal with surface life, if conditions waver just slightly to a better condition. I think there have been exceptions to the notion that the surface cannot support life, and I think they have been relatively frequent in geological/biological time.
]]>How a Garbage Fire Could Lead to New Antibiotics Ya the title is misleading.....
Shade studies how microbes evolve, in particular what happens when their homes are destroyed. When the fire started burning in Centralia, the once cool ground turned into unbearably hot dirt. Shade has recorded soil as hot as 120 degrees Fahrenheit near steam vents. “The soil remains hot for years, or multiple generations for microbes,” says Shade. As the fire depleted the coal seam underneath, the fire front moved, and some areas of the ground cooled down again.
As for life on Mars, I suspect they will eventually find some. It'll be subsurface, having something to do with liquid groundwater. We have that here, in the deep rocks actually. Miles down. It's only been found in recent years.
There might be near-subsurface descendants of microbes from that early ocean in the northern basin zone, too. Just meters down. Maybe even underneath the old lakes and streambeds scattered across Mars, too. But it'll be several meters down or more, we'll need real drill rigs to find it. I'd hazard the guess it'll require liquid groundwater. That would suggest not in the hard-frozen polar zones.
If we ever terraform Mars back to warmth and wetness with thick air, I'd predict any underground Martian microbial life will re-colonize the surface.
GW
]]>When I think in such matters, I think in something other than verbal language. The translations do not always work.
But a body has bones which are rigid, but still have joints. It also has muscles. A body without muscles (Rigidity) would be a quivering mass on the floor. I seek a balance. I understand that rocketry, which I understandably should be humble before, requires the best thinking. It is risky when I venture into such areas.
]]>GW
]]>I appreciate your rigid attitude, with just a bit of open mindedness stirred in.
You are a rocket guy, and if you don't get the formulation right, they easily do not do what you want, and most often do what you don't want, in an extreme way.
Without the open mindedness, however (In small measures) you would be doomed to go in circles forever and never be able to incorporate a new method.
Electric exists as you say, but caution is appropriate in attributing more to it than is demonstrated. But eyes and other senses open when you have the time usually costs little.
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