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Mars Soil Appears To Be Able To Sustain Life

Posted by timothy on from the expensive-way-to-replenish-topsoil dept.

beckerist writes "Scientists working on the Phoenix Mars Lander mission, which has already found ice on the planet, said preliminary analysis by the lander's instruments on a sample of soil scooped up by the spacecraft's robotic arm had shown it to be much more alkaline than expected. Sam Kounaves, the lead investigator for the wet chemistry laboratory on Phoenix, told journalists: 'It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard, you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well. ... It is very exciting for us.'"

13 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. Growing Asparagus on Mars... by ForestGrump · · Score: 5, Funny

    It would probably lead to a very smelly planet.

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    1. Re:Growing Asparagus on Mars... by sheepweevil · · Score: 5, Funny

      What a way to motivate new colonists...

      Join the exciting new Mars colony! Wide open spaces! All-you-can-eat asparagus!

    2. Re:Growing Asparagus on Mars... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Only on Slashdot would someone spell "oxygen" wrong and yet correctly spell "aphrodisiac"...

    3. Re:Growing Asparagus on Mars... by clone53421 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Only on Slashdot would someone spell "oxygen" wrong and yet correctly spell "aphrodisiac"...

      Priorities, priorities!

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
  2. FTA: by Farmer+Tim · · Score: 5, Funny

    You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well. ... It is very exciting for us.

    And I thought I didn't get out much.

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    1. Re:FTA: by __NR_kill · · Score: 5, Funny

      growing weed should be more interesting, over there it's nobody's jurisdiction :)

  3. Martian Red by JustOK · · Score: 5, Funny

    Martian pot is what I'm waiting for. I'm sure it would be outta this world.

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    rewriting history since 2109
    1. Re:Martian Red by Shadowlore · · Score: 5, Funny

      Given the gravity differences, an ounce of of pot on Mars would get you *much* higher.

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      My Suburban burns less gasoline than your Prius.
  4. NEWS FLASH! by ROMRIX · · Score: 5, Funny

    You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well. ...

    I can see the headlines now in all the papers, when this quote goes mainstream;

    TOP SCIENTIST CLAIM MARS SOIL SUPPORTS ASPARAGUS LIKE LIFE FORMS!
  5. Asparagus on Mars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just more evidence that Big Asparagus has co-opted our national science agenda.

  6. Life on Mars by joshtheitguy · · Score: 5, Funny
    Fry: Back in the 20th century we had no idea there was a university on Mars.

    Farnsworth: Well, in those days, Mars was just a dreary uninhabitable wasteland. Much like Utah. But unlike Utah, it was eventually made livable.

  7. Re:send seeds by wooferhound · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't lichen asparagus anyway . . .

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  8. Re:not that interesting by Kjella · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can you imagine? You get the munchies, and all there is to eat is asparagus? Ugh. Actually, yes I just imagined a bunch of hippies sitting on Mars eating asparagus. It's a good thing I don't have a therapist, because that could have gotten expensive.
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