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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.'"

6 of 337 comments (clear)

  1. I knew it by EdIII · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Seeing as I always thought asparagus was from Mars, I am not all that surprised.

  2. Martians by aaronfaby · · Score: 1, Redundant

    So I guess this means god may have created life on Mars as well!

  3. Life on the landers? by dstates · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Wonder how thoroughly they disinfected the Mars landers before launch. The Earth has a rich soil and subterranean ecosystem so even if Mars has no ozone layer, there are plenty of hospitable places where a microbe could live. And of course, there would not be any natural predators to keep an invasive species in check. Just think, NASA may just have conducted their boldest experiment ever.

    --
    Statesman
  4. Re:AP News Article by SuperGus · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In Japanese the chemistry term for base (vs acid) is "enki" which means "salty material". Salts make the soil basic.

  5. Design by alexj33 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I know this comment won't be popular, but so be it.

    Another reason to believe the universe was designed. What are the chances of our planetary neighbor being able to support plant life?

  6. Re:send seeds by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    I thought lichen was like moss, and needed darkness and damp conditions.
    ...oh come on. Really? I mean other than the lichen around wherever you are, how about the tundra? What caribou get by on in winter because it's bloody everywhere there with precious little else? It's a major plant type.

    I'm sincerely surprised. Is it ringing no bells with you? Like not even the odd nature documentary coming back to memory now that I mention it?