Mars Images Reveal Evidence of Ancient Lakes

Matt_dk writes "Spectacular satellite images suggest that Mars was warm enough to sustain lakes three billion years ago, a period that was previously thought to be too cold and arid to sustain water on the surface, according to research published today in the journal Geology. Earlier research had suggested that Mars had a warm and wet early history but that between 4 billion and 3.8 billion years ago, before the Hesperian Epoch, the planet lost most of its atmosphere and became cold and dry. In the new study, the researchers analysed detailed images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is currently circling the red planet, and concluded that there were later episodes where Mars experienced warm and wet periods."

Comments

Re:How do they determine those dates?

[Chris Burke]

Contrary to what the "internet" likes to tell you, many people question what scientists say because they want to see actual proof to support the claims rather than just additional layers of theories and educated "guesses".

And the people who are legitimately intellectually curious rather than simply delighting in taking jabs at the "scientific orthodoxy" don't universally phrase their questions as "Do you know what you're talking about or are you making shit up that supports your preconceived notions?"

"How do they determine those dates?" is a fine question, one I am curious about as well. "Gee, in the scientific method I'm used to, you have to have a known reference. Do they have one? Have they been following the scientific method?" kinda makes you sound like the kind of person you are implying you aren't. Maybe you're just being defensive, or using modding reverse-psychology. But really, just leave that part out.

Re:How do they determine those dates?

[Daniel Dvorkin]

I'm probably going to get modded down or flamed for being a heretic for daring to question modern scientific orthodoxy

Ah, the classic cry of the rebel without a clue.

Listen up, kid: you are not an iconoclast. You are not boldly speaking truth to power. You are not Martin Luther nailing his theses to the cathedral door. You are not a special snowflake.

Everyone who has ever worked in this project has thought of, and answered, every single one of your questions long ago. And those answers are easily available with a small amount of digging, which you would do if you had any interest in the actual answers instead of just self-aggrandizing puffery.