Seeking Signs of Ancient Martian Life

StonyandCher writes in about a collaboration between NASA and a leading Australian exploration and mining scientist, Dr. Brent McInnes, to search for signs of ancient life on Mars. The plan is to develop and miniaturize the "Alphachron" — an exploration technology currently employed by the Australian minerals industry to determine the age of minerals. If the Alphachron can be miniaturized, it could fly with the next rover mission set for launch in 2010. "The highest priority is to understand when liquid water was present on Mars. 'The same minerals that can be found in [Western Australia]... can also be found on Mars,' McInnes said. Accordingly, by using the Alphachron to date minerals on Mars and thus tell when liquid water may have been present, it can be inferred when life may have been sustainable near the surface of the planet."

Comments

PETM

[Wild Bill TX]

PETM (People for the Ethical Treatment of Martians) will focus its attention on whatever means of harming innocent Martians humanity may conceive. We will educate, protest, legislate, and even rescue Martians, with an undying dedication to preserving the valuable and sacred Martian life.

Re:PETM

[RazzleDazzle]

I don't know man, Valentine Michael Smith never seemed to need much help once he got going. I am sure if properly motivated he could kick even Chuck Norris's ass without much effort and he was not even really Martian.

Re:PETM

[Merls the Sneaky]

I thought it was People Eating Tasty Martians

Re:PETM

[KDR_11k]

It was but they starved.

I just don't understand scientists.

[iamdrscience]

Ancient Martian life? Why bother? All they'd do is show you pictures of their grand kids and talk about how great Mars used to be. What they should be doing is looking for some young, sexy, teenage martians. For that matter, why are they looking on Mars anyways? Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.

Has it really been so long since the original Star Trek aired that scientists have forgotten that the primary goal of space exploration is to find hot alien women to have sex with? I'm willing to forgive science for failing to deliver on its promises of flying cars and personal jetpacks, but if I don't have harem of hot alien babes soon, then I am going to be FUCKING PISSED.

Re:I just don't understand scientists.

[KDR_11k]

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus.

Which explains the poisonous atmosphere.

Re:I just don't understand scientists.

[iamdrscience]

True, but I'm talking practicalities here. For whatever reason, probably a good two thirds majority of scientists are heterosexual men, so it's only fair that the main goal should be finding beautiful, three-breasted, venusian astro-nymphs. I mean, don't get me wrong, I know gay scientists and lady scientists need space-lovin' too, but we've got to stay focused.

Plenty of evidence

[Anonymous Coward]

Plenty of evidence for ancient life on mars, and the moon for that matter.
I remember seeing websites that showed ruined buildings on both as well as many other anomalies that scientists (read closed mind almost like religious freaks, scared of speaking out as they're funding would get cut) dismissed. Keep an open mind when you look on the net for this stuff

Signs of life in Western Australia?

[Anonymous Coward]

Ultimately the scientists hope to establish whether it is possible for some form of life and ultimately culture to develop in Western Australia.