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Panel Recommends Mars Samples Be Quarantined

Posted by timothy on from the so-mars-doesn't-attack dept.

selectspec writes: "The NYTimes is reporting that a panel of scientists has recommended that NASA treat samples returned from Mars from future missions be quarantined as if they contained deadly viruses until proven otherwise. ABC news also has the scoop, as does space.com. Of course many scientists agree this is pure politics given that over a ton of Martian material enters our atmosphere every year, spit up from meteor impacts on Mars. In the unlikely event that life currently existed on Mars in the past million or so years, such debris would have likely transported microbial organizisms here. Many forms of microbial life would be able to survive such a journey."

3 of 146 comments (clear)

  1. I agree with NASA by Kenneth · · Score: 5

    Many forms of microbial life would be able to survive such a journey.

    Many forms wouldn't.

    Although you are correct that it is unlikely in the extreme that anything has survived on mars, however it is always better to play it safe when there is nothing real to be gained by taking a stupid risk no matter how small.

    It hurts no one to so a complete analysis of these materials in quarintine before allowing them out.

    Finally it is logical to assume that Martian microscopic organisms (if there are any) would be only slightly more hearty than their Earth counterparts. This means that even though some could survive being violently blasted off the surface of the planet, then survive in space for years or even centuries, then survive the massive heat of atmospheric entry, most couldn't.

    Since we are now going to bring them back with better control, over the transport envrionment, it is possible for something that could not have otherwise reached Earth to survive.

    Granted the chances are minescule, but why take even a small risk of setting off a plague when that can be avoided by such a simple precaution.

    --
    There is a civil war coming in the United States. Remember which side has most of the guns
  2. Protects the samples as well... by upstateguy · · Score: 5
    One of the things the samples brought back may help determine is *if* life ever existed on Mars.

    It makes sense to quarantine the samples to prevent them from getting contaminated by *us* and confusing any results.

  3. Only a clarification... by RussGarrett · · Score: 5

    I remember reading years ago that NASA's policy on such things was that any samples brought back from other planets were to be treated as Level 4 Biohazard anyway. i.e. glove boxes and biohazard suits.

    This is the same standard as pathogens such as Ebola and other haemorragic fevers are kept at.