BBC: Mars 'not a watery world'

Scoria writes "Contrary to a belief shared among many scientists, new evidence established by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor suggests that the planet may not have once possessed a temperate climate capable of sustaining life. Instead, an absence of carbonate rock deposits, which require the presence of liquid water to be produced, lends credence to those who believe that Mars is perpetually frozen."

Comments

Is this just one group stating their opinion?

[xanderwilson]

The article seems to say that we've finally found some carbon-bearing minerals, but some people in Arizona don't think it means anything. What's the story here? Is it new that we found some carbon-bearing minerals or is it new that the group in Arizona has made some conclusions based on the data?

It's such a shallow article it's hard to tell if this is significant. It makes me think of someone saying over and over and over again that there's absolutely no evidence to suggest x. When someone comes up with some evidence that does suggest x, the naysayer quickly fires back, "Well, that's only a little bit of evidence, so it's still not true." Maybe, maybe not.

I agree with the NASA guy. It's too early to tell.

Alex.