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NASA: If There Was Life On Mars, It Was Likely Underground

Posted by samzenpus on from the mole-people dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA issued a study today that said if life ever existed on Mars, the longest lasting environments were most likely below the planet's surface. The hypothesis comes from analyzing tons of mineral data gathered over the years from more than 350 sites on Mars gathered by NASA and European Space Agency Mars space probes."

28 of 59 comments (clear)

  1. Sand Worms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    nuff said

    1. Re:Sand Worms by Tarlus · · Score: 1

      I've always told people that our red neighbor is almost certainly fragrant of cinnamon.

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    2. Re:Sand Worms by Sabathius · · Score: 1

      Usil, we have Worm-sign the likes of which even Mars has never seen. (See what I did there?)

    3. Re:Sand Worms by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

      nuff said

      It's too cold for sand worms. Besides, sand worms would have to contend with the Ice Warriors, and they'd probably find the waters of Mars to be rather inhospitable as well.

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  2. I feel a new meme coming on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Hipster UFO conspiracy theorist says "I was abducted and probed by Martians when they were still underground"

    Wait. What?

  3. hipster martians by MikeyO · · Score: 1

    Hipster martians were totally underground, which is why you've never heard of them before

    1. Re:hipster martians by GoodNewsJimDotCom · · Score: 1

      They're not to be found in the biggest rivers we explored because that's the mainstream.

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    2. Re:hipster martians by Tetsujin · · Score: 1

      Nicely done.

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  4. tons of mineral data by fotoguzzi · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This term seems to be here used as a figure of speech. Maybe a less-confusing, less provocative term could have been used?

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    1. Re:tons of mineral data by FreakyGreenLeaky · · Score: 1

      Yes, for a second there I kept reading that they had tons of marsian minerals and soil...

    2. Re:tons of mineral data by khallow · · Score: 1

      Of course, this isn't a figure of speecch. Have you ever tried to carry data? Someone has to push that stuff along the tubes. Think about the data carriers the next time you're playing WoW.

  5. curious timing... by Adult+film+producer · · Score: 1

    Is NASA desperate for funding right now?

    1. Re:curious timing... by DerekLyons · · Score: 1

      Since we're only a month into the new fiscal year, and debates for next years budget aren't anytime soon... time to adjust the tinfoil.

  6. Niven had it (sort-of) right. by DMUTPeregrine · · Score: 1

    So the dust isn't hundreds of meters deep, and there are no spear-toting maniacs, nor any diamond wells, but he at least guessed the underground bit...

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  7. Was underground? by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 1

    As in past tense. Seems someone is making an assumption.

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    1. Re:Was underground? by Muad'Dave · · Score: 1

      Or in boolean logic (NOT p) OR q.

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      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  8. Wait a second... by villew · · Score: 1

    Haven't I seen the same thing a couple of weeks ago in Pioneer One Ep5?

  9. The 3rd set of data supporting subsurface H20 ice by kurthr · · Score: 5, Informative

    There was new data this year indicating subsurface water ice from two synthetic radars (SHARAD and MARSIS at different frequencies on two different landers).
    They have estimates for the volume and placement of the ice as well.
    http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/news/feats/2010/mars_glaciers.html

    An original finding from 2002 based on a single Gamma Ray Spectrometer instrument showed excess Hydrogen...
    http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2002/28may_marsice/

    And now even more extensive results from long term surface studies... I find the recent subsurface radar measurements most compelling.

  10. Other evidence by kurt555gs · · Score: 1

    I have seen some photos from the Mars Explorer that clearly show Thoat, Calot, and Mad Zitidar tracks. Nasa refuses to acknowledge this. If you look at the pictures from the Valley Dor, just above the lost sea of Korus, it's obvious.

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  11. Am I the only one... by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 1

    who thinks this was pretty obvious without a NASA funded study?

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  12. Obviously by Coffee+Warlord · · Score: 1

    Anyone who's ever played X-Com has known for years that the alien HQ on Mars was underground.

    Time to hunt some Sectoids...

  13. nearly every Earth well below 100C has life by peter303 · · Score: 1

    Scientists have found microbes in five mile deep wells that have been buried for tens of millions of years. They were either buried too, or percolated very slowly from ground water. Mars, which is more geologically stable than Earth, may likely have these too.

  14. final schedule Mars probe launches in 3 weeks by peter303 · · Score: 1

    The nuclear-powered Curiosity "Martian SUV rover" launches the day after Thanksgiving. I'll try to make the launch. It was two years late and a billion dollars over budget. Its is the final funded probe in a 15 year successful run of orbiters and a 6 landers, due to US financial troubles. If it is as durable as the current rovers, it could keep scientists busy for the rest of the decade.

    After a few more satellite observers in the pipeline for 2012, its looks very dismal for NASA's unmanned space programs.

  15. Re:The 3rd set of data supporting subsurface H20 i by Limburgher · · Score: 1

    indicating subsurface water ice from two synthetic radars

    What other kind is there? :)

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  16. Re:No Surprise by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1

    No-one ever expected to make money from NASA. They do from Ponzi schemes.

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  17. Basic hydraulic engineering by Livius · · Score: 1

    Well, obviously--canals are built below ground level.

  18. i, for one by greywire · · Score: 1

    Welcome our new underground martian overlords!

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    -- Senior Software Engineer, Attorney appearance services, locallawyerapp.com.
  19. Re:reports all coming in from all from all over th by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

    reports all coming in from all from all over the world flying saucers are attacking from mars it's a attack from mars.

    Why don't we just direct them to Uranus?

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