Author Topic: NASA finds life on Mars - Briefing today at 2pm EST (Read 4755 times)

ManaByte · « **on:** January 15, 2009, 01:13:33 PM »

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/4243321/Mars-methane-discovery-hints-at-presence-of-life.html

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Large quantities of the gas - which on Earth is mostly produced by living things - were recorded by three huge telescopes during a seven year study.

The level of activity was so great that at times it equalled the amount of the gas released at some of the most methane-rich locations on Earth.

Scientists say that further investigation is necessary to determine whether the gas - spotted in 2003 - was created by the biological processes of creatures such as microbes, or from volcanic activity.

"Living systems produce more than 90 per cent of Earth's atmospheric methane; the balance is of geochemical origin. On Mars, methane could be a signature of either," Nasa said in a statement.

Europe's Mars Express probe picked up possible evidence of methane on Mars in 2004, but Nasa's latest discovery has been heralded as the strongest indicator yet that the planet is able to support simple organisms.

The methane, which was detected alongside water vapour, could have been a waste product from organisms called methanogens living in water beneath underground ice, experts believe.

Professor Colin Pillinger, whose Beagle 2 craft crashed on Mars in 2003 while on a mission to seek signs of life, said the discovery could prove important.

"Methane is a product of biology. For methane to be in Mars' atmosphere, there has to be a replenishable source," he told The Sun.

"The most obvious source of methane is organisms. So if you find methane in an atmosphere, you can suspect there is life.

"It's not proof, but it makes it worth a much closer look."

Nasa will announce the full results of the study at a briefing in Washington today.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2133475.ece

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ALIEN microbes living just below the Martian soil are responsible for a haze of methane around the Red Planet, Nasa scientists believe.

The gas, belched in vast quantities in our world by cows, was detected by orbiting spacecraft and from Earth using giant telescopes.

Nasa are today expected to confirm its presence during a briefing at their Washington HQ.

And the find is seen as exciting new evidence that Martian microbes are still alive today.

Some scientists reckon methane is also produced by volcanic processes. But there are NO known active volcanoes on Mars.

Furthermore, Nasa has found the gas in the same regions as clouds of water vapour, the vital “drink” needed to support life.

Experts speculate that the methane is being emitted as a waste product by organisms called methanogens living in water beneath underground ice.

And they would have to be alive today because the methane would otherwise have been lost from the Martian atmosphere.

John Murray — a member of the Mars Express European space probe team — believes the mini-Martians may be in a form of suspended animation and could even be REVIVED.

He has found overwhelming evidence of a vast frozen ocean beneath the dust near the Martian equator where simple life could have thrived as microbes.

Today’s briefing will feature a star panel of Mars experts headed by Michael Meyer, chief scientist for Nasa’s Mars programme.

UK Mars expert Professor Colin Pillinger believes the methane can only point to the presence of life on the planet.

His ill-fated Beagle 2 probe was carrying a laboratory that would have looked directly for such signs of life when it crashed on Christmas Day 2003.

Prof Pillinger told The Sun last night: “Methane is a product of biology. For methane to be in Mars’ atmosphere, there has to be a replenishable source.

“The most obvious source of methane is organisms. So if you find methane in an atmosphere, you can suspect there is life.

“It’s not proof, but it makes it worth a much closer look.”

Nasa’s findings confirm studies by Europe’s Mars Express probe, which has been orbiting the planet for five years and also reported signs of methane in 2004.

Britain’s top space expert Nick Pope last night hailed the new evidence of life as “the most important discovery of all time”.

He said: “What could be more profound than to know it’s not just us out there?

"We’ve really only scratched the surface — it’s an absolute certainty that there is life out there and we are not alone.

“If there is life on Mars then the logical conclusion is that there must be life elsewhere too.

“If it’s happened here on Earth, then why shouldn’t it happen anywhere? The implication is this is a universal law.

“Mars is very similar to Earth. It’s about the same size, it’s a rocky inner planet.

“Most scientists believe it probably has liquid water which is almost universally agreed as the pre-requisite for life. I am certain there is other life in the Universe and, most likely, intelligent life.”

The Red Planet has gripped the public imagination for more than a century as a possible home for aliens.

But life could not survive on its surface because, unlike the Earth, Mars has no magnetic shield to protect it against deadly sun radiation.

The planet resembles our own in many ways. It is made of rock, it has an atmosphere and weather systems.

Although much smaller with a diameter of around 4,222 miles, Mars’ day is just 40 minutes longer than ours and its tilted axis gives it seasons.

Water has been found in the form of buried ice and scientists believe that two billion years ago, Mars was covered with liquid oceans.

Proof that water is still on Mars came in 2007 when Mars Express used ground-piercing radar to study the region around the planet’s South Pole.

Nasa’s latest lander Phoenix dug up chunks of Martian ice last year. It swiftly evaporated into the thin atmosphere.

Nasa have controversially hit the headlines before for claiming evidence for Martians.

In 1996, they said they had discovered fossilised organisms in a meteorite from the planet.

But other scientists were sceptical.

Today’s conference will be broadcast live online by NASA TV (www.nasa.gov/ntv) at 7pm.

Acclimation has begun.

NASA had these findings before Thanksgiving, and ran them by Bush who told them they couldn't go public. Now that Bush is leaving office, NASA is doing their conference today. You can view it online or on cable. 2pm EST/11am PST.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:19:31 PM »

It seems a bit premature until we actually get a real sample of these microbes. It almost feels like NASA is trying to justify their Mars program before Obama takes office.

Which is great. I think we should have a manned mission to Mars ASA(safely)P. But, I don't really agree with this announcement.

Bocsius · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:23:26 PM »

NASA has a TV Guide.

G The Resurrected · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:30:00 PM »

wow so the first life outside our planet that we find is bugs with gas. After all they are on the nacho cheese planet, they must be lactose intolerant.

Brehvolution · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:31:39 PM »

I found it on ABC at 10PM on Thursdays.

Mandark · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:31:57 PM »

Quote from: ToxicAdam on January 15, 2009, 01:19:31 PM

It seems a bit premature until we actually get a real sample of these microbes. It almost feels like NASA is trying to justify their Mars program before Obama takes office.

Which is great. I think we should have a manned mission to Mars ASA(safely)P. But, I don't really agree with this announcement.

I think the life-on-Mars hype is coming mostly from the original Sun article and quotes from unaffiliated Brits.

Quote from: Manabyte

NASA had these findings before Thanksgiving, and ran them by Bush who told them they couldn't go public.

Source for this, other than your own fevered imagination?

ManaByte · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2009, 01:39:47 PM »

Actually, the White House was briefed on it back in August:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/WH08018.xml&headline=White%20House%20Briefed%20On%20Potential%20For%20Mars%20Life&channel=space

NASA wanted to make that public back in September.

Both Obama and McCain were also briefed in August, and afterward Obama proposed $2 billion additional funding for NASA:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/WH08018.xml&headline=White%20House%20Briefed%20On%20Potential%20For%20Mars%20Life&channel=space

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:07:33 PM »

i hope it's true just so we can start burning bibles

Tauntaun · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:10:20 PM »

Ready to go great these new life forms.....

AND BLOW THEM AWAY AND TAKE THUR OILZ!

:marscry

Diunx · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:18:04 PM »

I hope that when I'm 64 years old I have my own Martian sexual slave and sandwich maker.

ManaByte · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:20:20 PM »

Briefing is going on now. They're at the Q&A.

They say the Methane is NOT being produced by volcanoes. There are no active ones on Mars and the volcanic gasses are not present, so they shot down the guy trying to say it wasn't biological in origin.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:29:55 PM »

Forget about Mars, Titan has methane rain and methane oceans.

Mars.

ManaByte · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:30:41 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 15, 2009, 02:29:55 PM

Forget about Mars, Titan has methane rain and methane oceans.

Mars.

Those are geologic in origin, this isn't.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #13 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:33:07 PM »

Mars is home to the Mechanicum.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:34:42 PM »

Quote from: ManaByte on January 15, 2009, 02:30:41 PM

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 15, 2009, 02:29:55 PM
Forget about Mars, Titan has methane rain and methane oceans.

Mars.

Those are geologic in origin, this isn't.

http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2005/2005GL022691.shtml

ManaByte · « **Reply #15 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:38:26 PM »

Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 15, 2009, 02:34:42 PM

Quote from: ManaByte on January 15, 2009, 02:30:41 PM
Quote from: Great Rumbler on January 15, 2009, 02:29:55 PM
Forget about Mars, Titan has methane rain and methane oceans.

Mars.

Those are geologic in origin, this isn't.

http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2005/2005GL022691.shtml

Nice job ignoring a live 2009 briefing from NASA with a four year old article written before these new findings.

Great Rumbler · « **Reply #16 on:** January 15, 2009, 02:48:48 PM »

So far we've got an article from The Sun that claims is must be aliens and a press conference from NASA that says it's not from a volcano, which doesn't contradict that article I posted.

Edit: The summary of the conference is that they found some methane, but they don't know for sure whether it's a geological process of some kind or if it's biological.

Diunx · « **Reply #17 on:** January 15, 2009, 03:55:00 PM »

So they didn't actually find anything?

smh Manabyte.

Bildi · « **Reply #18 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:11:19 PM »

Quote from: Professor Prole on January 15, 2009, 02:07:33 PM

i hope it's true just so we can start burning bibles

I read that as "burning babies." Twice.

brawndolicious · « **Reply #19 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:39:36 PM »

Didn't they already find bacteria that came from Mars?

drew · « **Reply #20 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:43:49 PM »

nuke the methane sites from orbit, its the only way to be sure

drozmight · « **Reply #21 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:45:11 PM »

they're robots.

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #22 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:49:52 PM »

Boring.

Nobody cares until we find shit with legs and a mouth!

Andowsky · « **Reply #23 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:53:46 PM »

I hope E.T. is discovered sometime in my lifetime. I think sometimes about what it would be like to be born hundreds of years into the future, maybe the average life will last hundreds of years by then.

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #24 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:55:28 PM »

Quote

Didn't they already find bacteria that came from Mars?

iirc it was something that may or may not have been traces of bacteria

The Fake Shemp · « **Reply #25 on:** January 15, 2009, 05:59:31 PM »

NASA has press conferences for the lamest things...

We have found evidence that most likely points to, but does not prove, the existence of life on Mars.

TEEEPO · « **Reply #26 on:** January 15, 2009, 06:08:52 PM »

wtf do you expect at a government press conference, more cleavage, explosions and disney singalongs?

on second hand, that wouldn't be a bad idea....

brawndolicious · « **Reply #27 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:30:10 AM »

Quote from: recursivelyenumerable on January 15, 2009, 05:55:28 PM

Quote
Didn't they already find bacteria that came from Mars?

iirc it was something that may or may not have been traces of bacteria

I believe it was fossilized bacteria so obviously it's not completely intact.

Bildi · « **Reply #28 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:35:06 AM »

Quote from: Willco on January 15, 2009, 05:59:31 PM

NASA has press conferences for the lamest things...

We have found evidence that most likely points to, but does not prove, the existence of life on Mars.

That Mars footage from Transformers was better. So Transformers was more interesting than NASA's conference.

smh NASA, smh

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #29 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:36:27 AM »

doesn't this disprove evolution!?

TVC15 · « **Reply #30 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:40:49 AM »

How would it disprove evolution? We don't even know anything yet.

ToxicAdam · « **Reply #31 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:49:08 AM »

wouldn't it make more sense that "god" created evolution? Too bad those early Bible writers didn't wedge that into there .. then you dirty, heathen atheists wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

Flannel Boy · « **Reply #32 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:51:42 AM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on January 16, 2009, 12:36:27 AM

doesn't this disprove evolution!?

Quote from: ToxicAdam on January 16, 2009, 12:49:08 AM

wouldn't it make more sense that "god" created evolution? Too bad those early Bible writers didn't wedge that into there .. then you dirty, heathen atheists wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

the trolls are out tonight.

PD's effort is a 0.1/10 and Adam's is a 5.5/10

TVC15 · « **Reply #33 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:53:42 AM »

Quote from: ToxicAdam on January 16, 2009, 12:49:08 AM

wouldn't it make more sense that "god" created evolution? Too bad those early Bible writers didn't wedge that into there .. then you dirty, heathen atheists wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

I believe this was basically the Catholic church's stance, at least up until Pope Palpatine. I really see no real reason why evolution is inconsistent with basically any but the most literal interpretations of the bible.

drozmight · « **Reply #34 on:** January 16, 2009, 02:34:13 AM »

Mars is probably one of those projects God was working on before he had a kid... that shit takes up all your time.

Flannel Boy · « **Reply #35 on:** January 16, 2009, 03:57:32 AM »

Quote from: drozmight on January 16, 2009, 02:34:13 AM

Mars is probably one of those projects God was working on before he had a kid... that shit takes up all your time.

Especially when your kid has a messiah complex.

T-Short · « **Reply #36 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:25:55 AM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on January 16, 2009, 12:36:27 AM

doesn't this disprove evolution!?

recursivelyenumerable · « **Reply #37 on:** January 16, 2009, 12:50:52 PM »

Quote

I believe this was basically the Catholic church's stance, at least up until Pope Palpatine.

AFAIK Benedict hasn't really made any substantial changes to Church doctrine or policy, he just has worse PR than JP2 did so he tends to get called out more.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #38 on:** January 16, 2009, 01:43:14 PM »

Quote from: Night Man on January 16, 2009, 03:57:32 AM

Quote from: drozmight on January 16, 2009, 02:34:13 AM
Mars is probably one of those projects God was working on before he had a kid... that shit takes up all your time.

Especially when your kid has a messiah complex.

That project was the earth before he created everything else

2: Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

3: And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

the light killed the dinosaurs

Brehvolution · « **Reply #39 on:** January 16, 2009, 01:57:02 PM »

Quote

the light killed the dinosaurs

At least he was kind enough to let them live a few hundred million years first.

TVC15 · « **Reply #40 on:** January 16, 2009, 02:58:22 PM »

I thought the dinosaurs died in the flood?

Also, if he flooded the whole world, making the whole thing one giant sphere of water, wouldn't that have killed all saltwater and freshwater fish, since the water for either would have been "diluted" enough to kill them?

Diunx · « **Reply #41 on:** January 16, 2009, 03:00:54 PM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on January 16, 2009, 02:58:22 PM

I thought the dinosaurs died in the flood?

Also, if he flooded the whole world, making the whole thing one giant sphere of water, wouldn't that have killed all saltwater and freshwater fish, since the water for either would have been "diluted" enough to kill them?

The arc had an aquarium...or something.

Bloodwake · « **Reply #42 on:** January 16, 2009, 03:25:36 PM »

Quote from: TVC 15 on January 16, 2009, 02:58:22 PM

I thought the dinosaurs died in the flood?

Also, if he flooded the whole world, making the whole thing one giant sphere of water, wouldn't that have killed all saltwater and freshwater fish, since the water for either would have been "diluted" enough to kill them?

They did, according to most fundamentals. PD must go to a church where there isn't a literal reading.

Which, by the way, is a positive and a negative. Negative because you can make up more bullshit to throw in Christianity, positive because half of the stuff is fables and parables anyways. Since Jesus (a real man) taught in parables it's logical to assume that the Bible is mostly made up of parables and fables. Jesus learned from his religion that parables were the easiest way to teach people.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #43 on:** January 16, 2009, 03:50:45 PM »

How do dinosaurs die during the flood when the documented dinosaur cases in the bible occur after the flood? IE Behemoth; I'm not counting Leviathan because it doesn't seem like a dinosaur, and still is in existence due to its future role during the tribulation.

IF you believe in that sort of stuff
/indiana jones

Himu · « **Reply #44 on:** January 16, 2009, 03:58:14 PM »

leviathan is my favorite final fantasy summon

ManaByte · « **Reply #45 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:04:06 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on January 16, 2009, 03:50:45 PM

How do dinosaurs die during the flood when the documented dinosaur cases in the bible occur after the flood? IE Behemoth; I'm not counting Leviathan because it doesn't seem like a dinosaur, and still is in existence due to its future role during the tribulation.

IF you believe in that sort of stuff
/indiana jones

The Book of Job was written by Moses and is thought to take place prior to the flood and possibly even earlier. The books in the Bible (outside the Pentateuch) aren't in chronological order.

Leviathan is believed to just be a whale.

Phoenix Dark · « **Reply #46 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:08:45 PM »

How is Leviathan a whale, that breathes fire? What would be the point of Jesus coming back to earth to kill a god damn whale

Brehvolution · « **Reply #47 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:10:31 PM »

9 Blue.

ManaByte · « **Reply #48 on:** January 16, 2009, 04:29:20 PM »

Quote from: Phoenix Dark on January 16, 2009, 04:08:45 PM

How is Leviathan a whale, that breathes fire? What would be the point of Jesus coming back to earth to kill a god damn whale

Leviathan is only mentioned five times in the Bible, all in the Old Testament: Job 3:8, Job 41, Psalms 74:14, Psalms 104:24-26, Isaiah 27:1.

If you have a New Testament translation that calls the beast or dragon in Revelation "Leviathan", then you may want to check and see if it was written by the Watchtower Bible Tract Society who has a bad habit of purposely mis-translating the text to fit their own agendas.

Although it can be easily confused.

The Hebrew for Leviathan used in the Old Testament is לויתן (livyathan) which means a large serpent, crocodile, or large sea creature. The Greek word for "dragon" used in the New Testament in Revelation is δράκων (drakōn) which literally means dragon or a great serpent.

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Author Topic: NASA finds life on Mars - Briefing today at 2pm EST (Read 4755 times)