Bacteria Could Survive In Martian Soil

Dagondanum writes "Multiple missions have been sent to Mars with the hopes of testing the surface of the planet for life — or the conditions that could create life. The question of whether life in the form of bacteria (or something even more exotic) exists on Mars is hotly debated, and still lacks a definitive yes or no. Experiments done right here on Earth that simulate the conditions on Mars and their effects on terrestrial bacteria show that it is entirely possible for certain strains of bacteria to weather the harsh environment of Mars." Perhaps this is something that will be tested further in a few years by the Mars Science Lab, also known as "Curiosity" and (as reader Nova1021 points out) "the Mars Action Hero."

Comments

What are we waiting for?

[Wonko the Sane]

Sounds like we should get started with the terraforming.

Re:What are we waiting for?

[MBGMorden]

They're waiting on that definite answer to life existing on Mars. If bacteria can survive there and we seed the planet, then we will never know for sure if life ever existed there independent of our own additions. Anything that we find that might have previously been there would always hold the possibility of just being a mutated strain of the life we sent ourselves.

Re:What are we waiting for?

[ElectricTurtle]

Any extrasolar threat large enough to COMPLETELY sterilize Earth is likely to do the same to Mars.

(Not that I otherwise disagree with the sentiment.)

FP

[4D6963]

Allow me to be the first to point out that we already know that some bacteria can survive interplanetary space travel and life on the Moon.

Now the real question is, can these bacterias be formed on Mars?

Re:FP

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

How is Bacterium formed?

How mars get pragnent?

Re:FP

[reverseengineer]

No, it looks like the same definition- the bacteria that survived did so by forming desiccated, nondividing endospores. The article mentions that the bacteria which didn't protect themselves with the endospore stage died within minutes. The two strains of bacteria they tested are of particular importance because they have been known to survive the Jet Propulsion Lab standard decontamination procedures, and so could take a trip to Mars. This paper describes some of the DNA repair mechanisms that B. pumilus uses to survive under adverse conditions.

Re:FP

[Anonymous Coward]

How is Bacterium formed?

How mars get pragnent?

They need to do way instain shuttle. It was on the news this mroning, A bacteria in mars consumed its three cell divsions. They are takign the three cell waslls back to the earth to lady to rest. My pary are with the sceintists, i am truely sorry for your lots.

Survive and reproduce?

[pifactorial]

To my knowledge many species of bacteria can survive indefinitely in practically any environment, but not while actively metabolizing. I am curious whether any of the species the article is talking about could actually survive and spread, if they would just stick around for a while and die out, or if they would only survive in a dormant state.

Re:Survive and reproduce?

[careysub]

To my knowledge many species of bacteria can survive indefinitely in practically any environment, but not while actively metabolizing. I am curious whether any of the species the article is talking about could actually survive and spread, if they would just stick around for a while and die out, or if they would only survive in a dormant state.

Bacteria definitely exist on Earth that can reproduce under conditions that exist somewhere on Mars, an example are the chemosynthetic bacteria found deep underground and are nourished by geothermal energy: http://www.planetary.org/news/2006/1027_Bacteria_Found_Thriving_Deep.html

What this study is establishing is whether it is possible to recover viable organisms from the near-surface soil. Such organisms might thrive below the reach of the surface lander's probes, but still have inactive spores brought to near the surface through water welling up from deeper down (and possibly other processes). Evidence of surface water outflows have been found in various spots on Mars.

Re:Epic Fail?

[Cocoronixx]

If that is the case then we have already failed. Any number of bacteria could have survived on the rovers could now be contaminating the surface. With no known competition they could be flourishing. I see little that can be done to figure out what is now native bacteria (if any) and what was brought via the rovers.

Wow! Too bad the NASA/ESA scientists weren't as smart as you, because if they were they would have put policies in place to mitigate the risks of contamination.

Anti-anthropo-centric thinking

[giladpn]

Why do we expect or hope that earth-like life forms will be found elsewhere?

The question of whether life in the form of bacteria (or something even more exotic) exists on Mars is hotly debated, and still requires a resolute yes or no

Ho hummm... We have had this debate going on since the "canals" were discovered on mars only to be debunked.

Once upon a time 600 years ago, people "knew" they are at the center of the universe. We were unique, chosen by heaven to lord it over the animals and created in the image of heaven. That was the view of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and also of the eastern empires (remember the "Emperor of Heaven") ?

Nowadays there is a large substantial minority of people whose thinking is guided by science. For this very substantial minority - debunking the "humans are at the center" myth is an article of faith. Finding the aliens - little green men or bacteria on mars - is important as an act of faith not just science.

It is important to separate real empirical science from the pseudo-science that is really an alternative system of belief. If we just look at empirical facts, the probability of finding life twice in the same solar system is not huge.

Anthropo-centric theology/philosophy was rightly debunked by Copernicus, Galileo, Darwin and Einstein.

Anti-anthropo-centric thinking equally deserves to be debunked. Science is about empirical evidence. Full stop.