Evidences on the possible existence of life in Mars

Scientists have long pondered about the possible existence of life in Mars. As senior high students in our institution, we consider Mars as the most fascinating planet now because of its widespread speculations of life overheard in the news and written in the paper. As we were researching on evidences, we have encountered a lot of awesome features and information about Mars.

In the mid-19 century, astronomers knew that Mars had certain similarities to earth. Observations led to increase in speculation that that Mars may be inhabited by life. In the mid-1970’s, Viking probes were put to mission to carry out experiment to detect microorganisms in Martian soil. Mars Global Surveyor, a lander, confirmed that Mars no longer possessed global magnetic field, allowing lie-threatening radiation of cosmic rays to reach the planets surface. Thus, helped the solar wind blow away much of Mars’ atmosphere over the years. A Mars’ meteorite (ALH84001) has grown result which concluded that it contained fossilized microbes. NASA, in March in the year 2004, announced that “Opportunity” had discovered evidence that Mars was a wet planet in the ancient past. In the same year and time, Mars Express reported detecting methane in Marsian atmosphere. Scientists proposed a process called “serpentinization” that could explain the presence of methane. In December 2006, NASA showed images suggesting that water is coursed in cater and even deposits of sediments are to be found. In May 2007, Spirit, the Mars rover, reportedly discovered the presence of silica showcasing that the past environment of the planet would have been perfect for microbial life.

Recently, NASA’s Phoenix Mars lander is now out on its mission to pursue water in the planet. The Phoenix will scan the Martian atmosphere up to 20 km in altitude. The goal of the spacecraft is to check whether subsurface samples of Martian soil hold carbon-containing compounds that are essential ingredients of life.

Primary Source: www. wikipedia.com

Summarized and eddited by: Michelle Dianne Salcedo

Advancement of Technology in Mars

Mars. Is it capable of keeping inhabitants in its surface? Will it allow anyone to set foot on it?

Questions which aroused the curiosity of scientist which lead them to search answers for these questions. When finding answers to these questions, modern facilities are needed. For this time, technology is fast developing. Thus, it gives help for researching the possibility of conquering Mars. Researchers are now purposely working hard for us to find more evidences of supporting elements on Mars.
An experimental greenhouse on Devon Island, Nuhavut, Canada was donated by SpaceRef Interactive Inc. It supports the conducted research under the auspices of Haughton Mars Project. This greenhouse project was installed on Summer 2002. not only SpaceRef Interactive Inc. sponsored the said project. It is also provided by Canadian Space Agency, University of Guelph, and Simon Fraser University.
The money spent and sponsored by the said establishments are not wasted. The greenhouse project is used as a tool for communication systems, control and sensors to test if the greenhouse can be operated with or without the absence of human. It has also 1 objective, to test the possibility of human beings on Mars. It will support scientific research which is relevant in finding unique ways or Earth- like ways to support life on Mars. With fidelity and complexity.
The greenhouse project is not the only project which is made for exploring Mars. There are many new technologies that made Mars exploration possible. These are the PROPULSION which provide energy to help scientist conduct long term studies. POWER for providing more efficient and increased electricity to the spacecraft and its subsystems. TELECOMMUNICATIONS for sending commands and receiving data faster and in greater amounts. AVIONICS, electronics for operating the spacecraft and its subsystems. SOFTWARE ENGINEERING for providing the computing and commands necessary to operate the spacecraft and its subsystems.
These researches are not the only tools to explore Mars. Maybe one day, these scientific instruments may fade and can be changed by even more powerful instruments. We cannot know the future because we are not psycho's and specially we are not God to dictate the future. Hopefully, after the researches, we can conclude that it is safe to live on Mars and it can sustain our lives. But it is always the best to SAVE OUR MOTHER EARTH EARLIER, so that we do not spend much for researching Mars and we will not worry were to find refuge when MOTHER EARTH surrenders.

Primary Source: www.marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov

Summarized and editted by : Blessel Maria Ates

What’s happening now and the factors that triggers finding a new planet for us to live in?

As we can see today, it seems that the world is starting to crumble away. We, people, should know that it’s our fault why the Earth is tearing itself apart. Natural calamities have not also increased the number of occurrence but also its intensity, like earthquakes, tsunamis, sudden volcano eruptions, tornados, typhoons, drought, cyclones, etc. It’s like the nature is hastening to destroy itself because she cannot bear us, who is abusing her kindness.

Due to global warming, many natural disasters have happen. Like, the sudden increase of the occurrence of typhoons and floods in America. Earthquakes with high-intensity in China that has caused great life loss, even the aftershocks are deadly. Not only in China, but also for the whole world, because the researchers have discovered that the number of incidents of earthquakes on the world has increased.

On December 4, 2004, countries have been hit by tsunamis, it was the most powerful earthquake the planet has ever seen after 40 years, with a total death of 13,000 and expected to rise further. These countries were Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The CNN news has stated, that some of the tsunamis reached as far as 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from the epicenter of the 9.0 magnitude quake.

Tornados have always been pestering America, but nowadays it seems that the number of the occurrence of tornado has increased. On June 11, 2008, a tornado has struck the western Iowa campground of the Boy Scouts. Tornados also hit down Kansas, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Unfortunately, 4 were dead and 48 were injured. It has also destroyed the small town of Chapman and has caused so much damage on the Kansas State University campus.

According Mr. Michael Wright, the oil reserves will be completely depleted on 2038, which is really quite shocking because it will all cause a great chaos around the world, including wars.

The rising of the sea levels were caused by the melting of the ice because of global warming. The ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting faster than the rate that the climate change computer models have predicted. There will be 4 expected consequences of the rising sea levels, like salinity will affect our water supply; landlocked bodies of water are threatened of salinity as well, so farming would also be affected; waves would increase its size; and islands below sea level would sink down.

There have been an increased of dry lands. Through desertification, poverty may increase its rate because poverty is worse in drier zones than on wetter zones.
Our underground reservoirs, also called aquifers, have a possibility that it would dry up because of global warming. There is also a possibility that because of the rising sea level, aquifers can be contaminated. This is really a serious problem because mostly of fresh water is from the groundwater.

There are also a lot of droughts happening now; it may cause dried soil that cannot produce crops anymore. This may also cause of hunger, deaths and even poverty.
These are only some of the disasters that are happening now in the world that was cause by us because of our irresponsibility. These are also some of the factors why the scientist tries to find a planet for us to live in. A planet that can support our lives and the elements that makes us alive. According to Chris McKay, a planetary scientist, that Mars had life. He said that Mars has water once before and all dried up because of its thick atmosphere. It has the same composition as the earth’s atmosphere; it has nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Who knows, maybe someday

Mars will be a planet where life can dwell.

Primary Source : www. wikipedia.com

Summarized and editted by : Pia Angela Enriquez