Water found on Mars: CONFIRMED.

[ZEE]

Originally posted by FrostyBoy
Ok, so if the ice at the top is part of a larger ice chunk, then I am curious how the ice chunks at the bottom formed, considering they are very small and seperate from the larger ice chunk. Is this normal?

hell if i know i am just stating the common sense part of it.

i was actually wondering about that myself. there is lots about this planet we know nothing about.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Originally posted by FrostyBoy
First thing that struck me is that the robot seems to have tilted the camera on the 2nd shot, there is also a colour loss (according to the high resolution original, you can see it slightly in the animation above.

Anyway, what I am a little confused about is why the ice CHUNKS are melting faster than the patch of ice at the top.

The article states the days, but not the time. Are we to believe that they took the photos at the exact same time of the day? According to the shadow's they did, as they are perfectly aligned. (except of couse, the tilted camera).

Lastly, notice the surrounding chunks of whatever are slightly changed after the ice-chunks have melted. Here is another picture. Doesn't that seem a little odd? Unless this dirt is very fine and shifted when the ice melted, i'm not sure. I noticed the surface is smoother, probably evidence for ice melt, rather than against it.

Clearly, it was all done in a studio.

[Lancer]

Our water levels are rising so we should bring some of ours there anyway. Maybe getting rid of a couple billion cubic metric maritime tonnes would help.

[BeBMan]

Not Beer, but maybe Asparagus

Martian soil appears to contain sufficient nutrients to support life - or, at least, asparagus - Nasa scientists believe.

Preliminary analysis by the $420m (£210m) Phoenix Mars Lander mission on the planet's soil found it to be much more alkaline than expected.

Scientists working on the spacecraft project said they were "flabbergasted" by the discovery.

The find has raised hopes conditions on Mars may be favourable for life.

"We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life, whether past, present or future," said Sam Kounaves, the project's lead chemist, from the University of Arizona.

Exciting data

Although he said further tests would have to be conducted, Mr Kounaves said the soil seemed "very friendly… there is nothing about it that is toxic," he said.


We were all flabbergasted at the data we got back
Sam Kounaves
University of Arizona

"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."

As well as being far less acidic than anticipated, the soil was also found to contain traces of magnesium, sodium, potassium and other elements.

"We were all flabbergasted at the data we got back," said Mr Kounaves. "It is very exciting for us."

The analysis is based on a cubic centimetre of soil scooped from 2.5cm (one inch) below Mars' surface by the lander's robotic arm.

The sample was then tested using the "wet chemistry" technique, which involves mixing the soil with water brought from Earth and heating the sample in one of the lander's eight ovens.

Ice stores

After a 10-month flight from Earth, Phoenix touched down successfully on Mars' northern plains on 25 May, to undertake a three-month study of the planet's geological history.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7477310.stm

Once we found the secret food depots of those little green terrorists getting rid of them and pacifying the planet is only a question of time. Without their asparagus they're helpless

[Japher]

Aaaaaaatack, of the killer Asaparagusesus!

[Lancer]

On Mars?!?!