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An Earth Lifeform Suitable For Mars

Posted by timothy on from the quick-let's-bring-some-up-there dept.

selectspec writes: "The nytimes is reporting on the discovery of a thermal vent-dwelling organism that thrives on hydrogen in an oxygen and sunlight deprived environment. Scientists believe this organism could flurish in the harsh environments of Mars and Europa."

7 of 23 comments (clear)

  1. What a wonderful idea! by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 2
    We don't have enough terrestrial difficulty with Biological Invaders, that we can't afford not to deliberately contaminate other planets!

    Really, this resides in that remarkable region of human hubris that lies between the rediculous and the irresponsible.

    Too bad Clarke's humming, black monolith isn't really around to nanny us.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
    1. Re: What a wonderful idea! by AnalogBoy · · Score: 2

      Oh we would -so- be going nova right now. (ref: 3001).

      I'm sorry, but clarke has to be on crack when he thinks we could stop an AI such as that with a virus or 5,000. I mean, hell. If its going to emulate, i'd assume it's going to run it in a seperate domain. Then the worst that could happen is it gets a cold and turns a little grey.. right?

      I'm telling you, the last thing you need is a pissed off, uberpowerful monolith. I bet it was designed by a woman.

    2. Re: What a wonderful idea! by Lars+T. · · Score: 2

      The scientist don't plan to put the organism there, they say that if this organism could live there, there could infact already be life on Mars or Europa.

      --

      Lars T.

      To the guy who modded me down from perfect to terrible Karma - Apple haters still suck

  2. Hooray for idiot space researchers by billcopc · · Score: 2, Funny

    They've finally discovered : (drumroll) DUST!

    Ladies and gentlemen, your tax dollars at work.

    --
    -Billco, Fnarg.com
  3. rats by Perdo · · Score: 2

    Introduce rats.
    Then cats to kill the rats.
    Snakes to kill the cats.
    Mongoose to kill the snakes.

    Use terestrial bacteria to terraform mars to make it fit for... nothing.

    --

    If voting were effective, it would be illegal by now.

  4. CALM DOWN by Fenris2001 · · Score: 2

    No one is talking about introducing this or any other organism to Mars in this article - it is simply making the point that life can be found in a wide variety of habitats where we might not know to look for it. Stringent protocols are in place to prevent the spread of Terran microbes to other planets.

    Life might be present on Mars under the ice caps or deep underground in a geothermal "Eden", and could thrive in a hypothetical Europan sea. Some of these environmental conditions (subzero ice) are present on Earth - by studying them, we learn what to look for, an important step if we send robotic or manned missions.

    I for one would like to see a serious program of robotic exploration of Mars and Europa as a precursor to manned missions there. Researching extreme conditions on Earth is a step in the right direction.

    --
    ---------------
    Vpered na Mars!
  5. I know an organism that can survive on Mars by SIGFPE · · Score: 2

    And I think people should open their wallets and start spending a bit of money on getting them there. I mean, of course, humans.

    --
    -- SIGFPE