“We have water..”
The strong indications have already been noted, but we now have confirmation from the latest samples taken by Nasa’s Phoenix lander
“We have water,” said William Boynton of the University of Arizona, lead scientist for the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer, or TEGA. “We’ve seen evidence for this water ice before in observations by the Mars Odyssey orbiter and in disappearing chunks observed by Phoenix last month, but this is the first time Martian water has been touched and tasted.”
Adds Nothing to do with the actual topic, but BJR linked it in the comments zone and it’s a great track.
“Tasted”? Is there something they forgot to tell us?
Anyway, that is great news. Pity they can’t test for bacterial remains. But, that’ll come later I guess.
Joe
The BBC report adds the emphasis
I wonder… http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=b399t_6V_PU
Ah David Bowie and Life On Mars….I’ve got all his albums! ………ye can’t beat arty music! But kinda doesn’t exist now!
Regarding Mars…Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink!
( ..and the word to submit this time was ‘design’…. good stuff! ……appropriate!
Subliminal messages…. will soothe the savage beasts! )
Just heard this on the news…terribly exciting, in a very nerdy way, I will confess….
Lots of what-if-ery kicking off in my tiny mind at this hour of the morning….
Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.
Pedant.
Pete
Thanks for this. The topic led to profound discussions with my 7 and 8 yr olds last nite. along the lines of
Water is a necessary precursor to life , as we know it (and Duncleg aside)
… so if there is water Mars then
… there may be life
… if there is life on Mars then
… well you can see where this is going.
Post 1: Water found on Mars, less than 10 comments
Post 2: Life on a Ballymena estate, 120+ comments
Says it all really, unless of course Ballymena is evidence of alien intervention on our planet.
Oh yeah, BJR, nice one with the vid. The kids liked that
If we do find life on Mars it may well be single cellular organisms. Perhaps we can transplant these into some of the good denizens of Dunclug to double their intellectual capacity.
Or perhaps the bonfire is actually a subliminal signal to the mother ship?
wild turkey. I like your logic. Water is a necessary precursor to life , as we know it (and Duncleg aside)
… so if there is water Mars then… there may be life… if there is life on Mars then… well you can see where this is going.”
You and your kids (aged seven and eight) made the connection. So did I, so I threw in a very literal video because it’s an epic song and I sort of thought, a nice little joke. Imagine my surprise when this leap in logic proved too big for Pete who informs us the video has “Nothing to do with the actual topic”. *Shrugs*
joecanuck
‘Water water everywhere, so let’s all have a drink.’ – Homer J. Simpson
Seriously though, this is amazing news. Can’t wait to see what the test results are re bacteria etc.
This should really reduce the cost of setting up a colony on Mars.
There really is no excuse now.
‘This should really reduce the cost of setting up a colony on Mars.
There really is no excuse now. ‘
WR
Especially as some of the potential colonialists, who will really be returning home, have a developed a proven proclivity for bonfires…which should keep them warm during those cold Martian nites.