Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Vast Subsurface Martian Ice Discovered

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the i've-got-you-under-my-skin dept.

The Fun Guy writes to tell us New Scientist is reporting that deep-scan radar results from ESA's Mars Express spacecraft have revealed vast amounts of subsurface ice. From the article: "Intriguingly, the signal reflected from the bottom of the crater is so strong and appears so flat that it may be liquid water. 'If you put water there, that's what the signal might look like,' Johnson told New Scientist. But he cautions the data is based on only one pass over the region and could be caused by another material."

5 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. Terraforming by richcoder · · Score: 4, Interesting

    To anyone in the know, what implications would this have on the possible terraforming of mars to have a hospitable atmosphere?

    1. Re:Terraforming by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I really can't imagine how the terraforming idea is going to be tenable over the long term. Even if you can figure out a way to bulk-up the atmosphere to raise surface temperatures sufficiently for water to exist in a liquid state, the gravity of Mars is to weak to sustain such an atmosphere, which will leak off over time. You would essentially have to keep adding to the atmosphere.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  2. another material?! by G3ckoG33k · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "and could be caused by another material"

    WTF?! Sending an expedition to Mars, to find water (supposedly with the correct equipment to do so), and then come up with that, erm, statement. As an armchair astronomer, I find that a bit weak.

  3. Underground water by Mprx · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While it is from a website full of pseudoscience and unconvincing "fossil" photographs, I found this stereophoto (view with crossed eyes for 3d view) very interesting:

    http://xenotechresearch.com/geyop122.htm

    I can't think of any possible explanation for this kind of geology other than water erosion. If there's liquid water below ground, maybe it's possible for it to reach the surface and remain liquid long enough to produce this feature.

  4. Re:What is it then, Barry? by everphilski · · Score: 2, Interesting

    yes, and my star wars profile likens me unto a sith lord. I also happen to be an engineer... when I'm given data, it's my job to draw the most logical conclusion from said data and use it constructively, not mentally masterbate.

    -everphilski-