Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Solar Wind Rips Up Martian Atmosphere

Posted by Soulskill on from the that-atmosphere-had-it-coming dept.

IHateEverybody writes "Scientists have found evidence that the solar wind is ripping off chunks of the Martian atmosphere, which could possibly explain why Mars has such a thin atmosphere today. The chunks are being ripped up along 'magnetic umbrellas,' which are bubbles of magnetic fields which rise from the ground and extend above the Martian atmosphere. This is surprising because scientists previously thought that these magnetic umbrellas protected the Martian atmosphere. Now it looks like exactly the opposite might be true."

10 of 101 comments (clear)

  1. At least.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    At least it's not ripping up Uranus.

    1. Re:At least.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      At least it's not ripping up Uranus.

      I'm sorry, AC, but astronomers renamed Uranus in 2007 to end that stupid joke once and for all.

      It's now called Urectum.

  2. Re:Holy crap. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Actually, no, I don't.

  3. Re:But what about the "how" part . . . ? by MadnessASAP · · Score: 4, Funny

    I dunno, the 3rd and 4th arm are great and come in handy all the time, but on the downside my 2nd head is WAYYY to talkative.

    --
    I may agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to face the consequences of saying it.
  4. Re:But what about the "how" part . . . ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Is that you, Zaphod Beeblebrox? Wait, no, sorry, my mistake. You mentioned four arms.

  5. Re:bad news for earth? by SlowMovingTarget · · Score: 4, Funny

    A new study concludes that the core of Mars is the consistency of the syrupy goop found inside chocolate-covered fruit candy.

    Apparently, Jello pudding does not actually make for a good planetary core.

  6. Re:bad news for earth? by Tablizer · · Score: 3, Funny

    There is a small loss of [Earth] atmosphere anyway from other factors. Still, the atmosphere is slowly regenerated by the combination of gaseous emissions...

    Save the Earth, eat a burrito!
         

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  7. Ob. Spaceballs reference by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 2, Funny

    We have a large shield around our planet, which has a special, secret password. No one can ever strip aweay our atmosphere, no matter how much they suck or blow.

    --
    You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
    1. Re:Ob. Spaceballs reference by AmonTheMetalhead · · Score: 2, Funny

      We have a large shield around our planet, which has a special, secret password. No one can ever strip aweay our atmosphere, no matter how much they suck or blow.

      Is the combination 12345?

    2. Re:Ob. Spaceballs reference by IHateEverybody · · Score: 3, Funny

      We have a large shield around our planet, which has a special, secret password. No one can ever strip aweay our atmosphere, no matter how much they suck or blow.

      Is the combination 12345?

      Hey! I have the same combination on my luggage.

      --
      Does this .sig make my butt look big?