Science Evidence of Present-Day Liquid Water On Mars?

**Donger** · 08-05-2011, 07:13 AM

http://www.space.com/12543-mars-myst...alt-water.html

Salt water could be running down some slopes of Mars every spring, researchers suggest.

Such a finding would suggest new directions to search for any life that still existed on the Red Planet.

Clusters of dark, narrow lines that periodically emerge and lengthen on slopes in the warmer regions suggest briny water on Mars might still be flowing in a few rare places on the planet's surface.

"This is water today, not in the past," study co-author Alfred McEwen, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona, told SPACE.com. [Photos: The Search for Water on Mars]

A great deal of evidence on the Martian surface suggests the planet was wet and perhaps capable of supporting life in the past. Although frozen water has been detected near the surface in many middle-to-high latitudes, there has been no definitive evidence that liquid water still runs across its surface.

"Water today on Mars was suggested previously, but it's not clear if those claims withstood follow-up studies," McEwen added. "That may prove true with this case as well, but for now, this is the best candidate for water today on Mars."

The scientists discovered the strange lines after a University of Arizona student used a computer algorithm on pictures of the Martian surface taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRise) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The algorithm was capable of identifying subtle changes on Mars over time. The images covered a variety of latitudes and span across approximately three Martian years.

The student, Lujendra Ojha, said in a statement: "I was baffled when I first saw those features in the images after I had run them through my algorithm. We soon realized they were different from slope streaks that had been observed before. These are highly seasonal, and we observed some of them had grown by more than 200 meters [650 feet] in a matter of just two Earth months." [FAQ: What the Possibility of Water on Mars Means]

These finger-like streaks extend down some slopes during the warmest months of the Martian year. They fade in winter, then re-emerge in the spring.

"What's most interesting to me is that it took so long to discover these details from images that were seen or acquired long ago but not examined in detail long ago," McEwen said. "It makes me wonder how many other things we're missing."

These features, called "recurring slope lineae," reach down steep slopes such as the rims of impact craters, usually on sides facing the equator. While they can be hundreds of feet long, they are only about 1.6 to 16 feet (0.5 to 5 meters) wide, much narrower than gullies seen in the past on Martian slopes.

The scientists detail their findings in the Aug. 5 issue of the journal Science.

**Donger** · 08-05-2011, 07:13 AM

**Lzen** · 08-05-2011, 07:27 AM

That is very cool. Yes, I'm a space geek.

DMAC · 08-05-2011, 07:30 AM

If that is water, there may be more than microbes there.

**Dave Lane** · 08-05-2011, 07:35 AM

We need to take some life that thrives here on earth and let it loose they see if it will grow.

Sofa King · 08-05-2011, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

We need to take some life that thrives here on earth and let it loose they see if it will grow.

If our organisms are anything like humans, they'll kill anything that's currently living there, destroy that environment, and then spread all over the planet.

That being said, we should send up Musk Thistle.

**Donger** · 08-05-2011, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

We need to take some life that thrives here on earth and let it loose they see if it will grow.

Broncos' fans?

Sofa King · 08-05-2011, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Broncos' fans?

I like where you're going with this.

**Donger** · 08-05-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sofa King

I like where you're going with this.

Just imagine the bumper stickers: "This is BRONCOS PLANET!!!"

Sofa King · 08-05-2011, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

Just imagine the bumper stickers: "This is BRONCOS PLANET!!!"

TEBOW FOR PRESIDENT!

Frankie · 08-05-2011, 09:57 AM

We all thank our resident scientist for providing today what was all over the news media YESTERDAY.

**Donger** · 08-05-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Einstein 159

We all thank our resident scientist for providing today what was all over the news media YESTERDAY.

The butthurt is strong with this one.

Shox · 08-05-2011, 10:01 AM

Gov't/scientific community "Mars Publicity" campaign begins. You will see many of these kind of things for the next several years to help justify the BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars they are going to spend on our next space project.

**Donger** · 08-05-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shox

Gov't/scientific community "Mars Publicity" campaign begins. You will see many of these kind of things for the next several years to help justify the BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars they are going to spend on our next space project.

**Rausch** · 08-05-2011, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shox

Gov't/scientific community "Mars Publicity" campaign begins. You will see many of these kind of things for the next several years to help justify the BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars they are going to spend on our next space project.

You really have no connection to reality or knowledge of the current state of the space program.

08-05-2011, 07:13 AM
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6819900 VARSITY	Evidence of Present-Day Liquid Water On Mars? http://www.space.com/12543-mars-myst...alt-water.html Salt water could be running down some slopes of Mars every spring, researchers suggest. Such a finding would suggest new directions to search for any life that still existed on the Red Planet. Clusters of dark, narrow lines that periodically emerge and lengthen on slopes in the warmer regions suggest briny water on Mars might still be flowing in a few rare places on the planet's surface. "This is water today, not in the past," study co-author Alfred McEwen, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona, told SPACE.com. [Photos: The Search for Water on Mars] A great deal of evidence on the Martian surface suggests the planet was wet and perhaps capable of supporting life in the past. Although frozen water has been detected near the surface in many middle-to-high latitudes, there has been no definitive evidence that liquid water still runs across its surface. "Water today on Mars was suggested previously, but it's not clear if those claims withstood follow-up studies," McEwen added. "That may prove true with this case as well, but for now, this is the best candidate for water today on Mars." The scientists discovered the strange lines after a University of Arizona student used a computer algorithm on pictures of the Martian surface taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRise) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The algorithm was capable of identifying subtle changes on Mars over time. The images covered a variety of latitudes and span across approximately three Martian years. The student, Lujendra Ojha, said in a statement: "I was baffled when I first saw those features in the images after I had run them through my algorithm. We soon realized they were different from slope streaks that had been observed before. These are highly seasonal, and we observed some of them had grown by more than 200 meters [650 feet] in a matter of just two Earth months." [FAQ: What the Possibility of Water on Mars Means] These finger-like streaks extend down some slopes during the warmest months of the Martian year. They fade in winter, then re-emerge in the spring. "What's most interesting to me is that it took so long to discover these details from images that were seen or acquired long ago but not examined in detail long ago," McEwen said. "It makes me wonder how many other things we're missing." These features, called "recurring slope lineae," reach down steep slopes such as the rims of impact craters, usually on sides facing the equator. While they can be hundreds of feet long, they are only about 1.6 to 16 feet (0.5 to 5 meters) wide, much narrower than gullies seen in the past on Martian slopes. The scientists detail their findings in the Aug. 5 issue of the journal Science.
Posts: 191,135

08-05-2011, 07:13 AM	#2
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6819900 VARSITY	__________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
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08-05-2011, 07:27 AM	#3
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-669308	That is very cool. Yes, I'm a space geek. __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
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08-05-2011, 07:30 AM	#4
DMAC MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Casino cash: $10008735	If that is water, there may be more than microbes there.
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08-05-2011, 07:35 AM	#5
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kanab, UT, USA Casino cash: $9333275 VARSITY	We need to take some life that thrives here on earth and let it loose they see if it will grow. __________________ Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about RICO, espionage, sedition, impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.
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08-05-2011, 09:57 AM	#11
Frankie Banned Join Date: Jul 2001 Casino cash: $10004900	We all thank our resident scientist for providing today what was all over the news media YESTERDAY.
Posts: 26,959

08-05-2011, 10:01 AM	#13
Shox Starter Join Date: Mar 2005 Casino cash: $10005765	Gov't/scientific community "Mars Publicity" campaign begins. You will see many of these kind of things for the next several years to help justify the BILLIONS and BILLIONS of dollars they are going to spend on our next space project.
Posts: 718