NASA ANNOUNCES THERE IS WATER ON MARS - Where there is water there is life - Not a reason to rejoice, though. - Human explorers will leave litter on Mars, as they have done in outer space. - And if there are tiny living creatures, they'll be mistreated as our own wonderful animals

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Well, since we are running out of places to pillage and pollute on this Earth, here is an opportunity to start anew.  If there are any living creatures on Mars, we'll enslave them, study them, torture them, kill them. 

 

If there is mining or any other profitable activity to do on Mars, we can always dump toxic garbage into the water or bury it underground. 

 

Wherever man goes - including outer space - he leaves a trail of litter and pollution behind.  Why should the exploration and exploitation of Mars be any different?

 

 

Mars mystery SOLVED:

Nasa confirms bizarre 'dark finger' marks on the red planet ARE signs of water flowing beneath its surface  

Nasa has confirmed it has found evidence of flowing water on Mars by studying marks lefts in gullies on the planet. The marks, or seasonal flows, were spotted in 2011 in Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter images and were later found to lengthen and darken on rocky slopes from late spring to early autumn (as seen in this animation) MY 29 and MY 30 stand for Mars year 29 and 30 and refer to 2008 until April 2011

 

• The 'dark finger-style' marks were first spotted in 2011 using images taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
• The streaks lengthen and darken on rocky slopes in various locations on Mars from late spring to early autumn
• Nasa has confirmed these so-called seasonal flows are likely made by flowing water on, or beneath, the surface
• This is the first evidence of its kind found on another planet and may suggest an ocean lies under Mars' icy exterior

By studying the infrared wavelengths from these flows, the researchers believe the marks are likely made by flowing water due to the presence of hydrated salts. This is the first evidence of its kind to be found on another planet and could even suggest there is an ocean beneath Mars’ icy desert surface (Hale crater pictured)

Continue reading and see more amazing images of MARS

In particular, finding definitive evidence of liquid water on Mars is the best indication researchers have that life may once have existed, or may yet come into existence, on an alien world. The experts used a computer program to filter out shadows and blemishes to observe the dark 'fingers' on the planet's surface (pictured)

 

Each location (Horowitz crater pictured) showed absorption bands consistent with the presence of hydrated salts during the times when the RSL are most noticeable and extensive - suggesting a link between the two. Furthermore, evidence was found for sodium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate and magnesium chlorate

 

Magnesium chlorate, magnesium perchlorate and sodium perchlorate monohydrate are thought to be the most likely salts left behind when brine evaporates. The researchers continued that the presence of perchlorate particularly suggests the water is briny rather than pure. Another shot of RSL in the Horowitz crater is shown

 

This graphic shows the distribution of sites where perchlorate salts have been detected on Mars. The red locations are where the salts have been detected using surface missions. The sites in blue are the locations studied in the recent research

 

 

If RSL (marked by arrows) are formed as a result of perchlorate salts absorbing water from the atmosphere they could create wet conditions on the surface of Mars (pictured right), but it wouldn't be enough to support life. In the study, the researchers said: 'Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that RSL form as a result of water activity on Mars'

 

What has the study found?

 Image of the seasonal flows found on Mars

 combines orbital imagery and 3D modelling

• In 2011, Lujendra Ojha 'accidentally' discovered finger-style marks on Mars after studying images of the planet's surface taken by the Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2011.
• Not only did the markings appear to move, they did so in a pattern that would be consistent with flowing water.
• It was proposed these changes were caused by a 'volatile substance' but the environment is too warm for carbon dioxide frost and too cold for pure water.
• Instead, it was suggested that a kind of brine was on, or beneath the surface, and until now this had not been proved.
• Since his discovery, observations of similar sites on Mars have revealed that the finger-like patterns seem to emerge in warmer seasons, and die away during cooler seasons.
• This was thought to signify the planet has flowing water, and even an ocean, under the surface that rises to during warmer weather.
• In his latest research, Mr Ojha investigated the composition of these seasonal flows by studying their infrared wavelengths.
• In each of the locations studied, the researchers found presence of hydrated salts during the times when the flows are most extensive - suggesting a link between the two.
• In particular, evidence was found for sodium perchlorate, magnesium perchlorate and magnesium chlorate which are thought to be left behind when brine evaporates.
• The presence of perchlorate particularly suggests the water is briny rather than pure and the researchers believe liquid water could be dissolving the perchlorates in the soil before re-precipitating them in higher concentrations.
• In particular, finding definitive evidence of liquid water on Mars is the best indication researchers have that life may once have existed, or may yet come into existence, on an alien world.
• Among the speakers at today's conference is lead author Lujendra Ojha, a grad student at Georgia Tech.
• Mr Ojha is credited with 'accidentally' discovering the finger-style marks on Mars after studying images of the planet's surface taken by the Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2011 while at the University of Arizona.
• By observing pictures of gullies on Mars over time, using a computer program to filter out defects such as shadows and blemishes, Mr Ojha observed dark 'fingers' spreading across the planet's surface.

 

 

Seasonal frost commonly forms at middle and high latitudes on Mars, much like winter snow on Earth. However, on Mars most frost is carbon dioxide (dry ice) rather than water ice. This frost appears to cause surface activity, including flows in gullies.

 

 

This view combines information from two instruments on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to map color-coded composition over the shape of the ground in a small portion of the Nili Fossae plains region of Mars' northern hemisphere.

 

Sources

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3252071/Mars-mystery-SOLVED-Nasa-confirms-bizarre-dark-finger-marks-red-planet-signs-water-flowing-beneath-surface.html

 

http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars