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Surprising Further Evidence for a Wet Mars

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the slippery-when-wet dept.

Riding with Robots writes "When the robotic geologist Spirit found the latest evidence for a wet Mars, 'You could hear people gasp in astonishment,' said Steve Squyres, the lead scientist for the Mars rovers. 'This is a remarkable discovery. And the fact that we found something this new and different after nearly 1,200 days on Mars makes it even more remarkable. It makes you wonder what else is still out there.' The latest discovery, announced today, adds compelling new evidence for ancient conditions that might have been favorable for life, according to the rover team."

4 of 192 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sand? by QuantumG · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's a part of sand.

    Silica or Silicon dioxide, is the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal settings is silica, usually in the form of quartz because the considerable hardness of this mineral resists erosion. However, the composition of sand varies according to local rock sources and conditions.

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    How we know is more important than what we know.
  2. Re:Ok great... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Informative

    I think this means more.

    Ice on the poles, a given. Easy. There are even some moons who're thought to have it. This, though, means that there was water there, liquid water, in larger quantities, far from the poles. And this water could have been the engine for life. Long, long time ago, granted, but still.

    It's not that there was water, it's where they found it.

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    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  3. Re:Solvents by treeves · · Score: 4, Informative

    True. A good reason to put it in plastic bottles. It does dissolve, just very slowly. Stronger bases (think Liquid Plumr) dissolve it even faster, but it still is slow.

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    ...the future crusty old bastards are already drinking the Kool-Aid.
  4. Re:Looks like ... by RealGrouchy · · Score: 5, Informative

    ... that gimpy wheel was a blessing in disguise

    While this does appear to be an interplanetary bug-as-a-feature, the rovers' wheels were actually designed to be able to scrape off the top layer of soil and expose what's underneath.

    Obviously, not to the degree this disabled wheel has, but still, they very much had plans to scratch below the surface of Mars.

    - RG>
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    Hey pal, this isn't a pleasantforest, so don't waste my time with pleasantries!