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New Cave Entrances Seen on Mars

Riding with Robots writes "The Mars Odyssey orbiter has come across what look to be openings to cavernous spaces under the surface of Mars. NASA reports the find is fueling interest in potential underground habitats and sparking searches for caves elsewhere on the Red Planet. These latest images follow other recent discoveries of intriguing places to explore. From the article: 'The find has led some to wonder if these or other caves on the planet may provide shelter to life or former life on the Red Planet. "Somewhere on Mars, caves might provide a protected niche for past or current life, or shelter for humans in the future," said Tim Titus of the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff. These caves, however, likely never hosted life due to the extreme altitude of their location. "Even if life has ever existed on Mars, it may not have migrated to this height," said Cushing.'"

6 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Hidin' in a cave by BWJones · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gee, maybe that is where Osama Bin Laden has been hiding. :-) After all, Bush had said "He could be hidin in a cave with the door open, he could be hidin in a cave with the door closed". It may also explain why Bush wants to go to Mars so bad...

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  2. Caves of Mars by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 3, Funny

    We prefer to say "Caves of Barsoom". kthx

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  3. There better be something in that cave by Nymz · · Score: 4, Funny
    Otherwise how do we justify honoring the Martians with their own Slashdot Topic Icon.
    • Pluto was denied (because it's too small, a dwarf planet)
    • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune were denied (for not being terrestrial enough)
    • Venus was denied (she's female)
    • Earth was denied (no intelligent life?)
    1. Re:There better be something in that cave by Ambiguous+Puzuma · · Score: 5, Funny

      Poor Mercury didn't even make it onto the "denied" list...

  4. Futurama was right by KefkaTheMad · · Score: 4, Funny

    Zapp: "The great stone face of Mars. Hmm, the only known entrance to the marsian reservation."
    Leela: "What about the great stone ass of Mars?"
    Zapp: "Well, yeah. But it's way on the other side of the planet."

  5. Your rover is at the entrance to a cave.... by COMICAGOGO · · Score: 5, Funny

    To your right is a torch...
    To your left is another passage....
    In front of you is a Martian Cave Troll...

    What do you do?

          Use Mineral Sampling Device.

    On what?

          troll

    Unknown command: troll

    The troll hits you for 12 damage, you are dead.