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The "Red Planet" has water. Not just water deep under its surface, but water on the surface of the planet. Think about that for a second. If there is water on mars then there is the potential scenario that microbial life is living on that planet as we speak.

Scientists have not discovered vast oceans or flowing rivers, but instead thin patches of water they are catching images of after it evaporates. So, while it is unlikely that we will be finding any major life forms on the planet any time soon, this is still a huge discovery that is hard to ignore.

If there is surface water, no matter how minuscule, then that means it's coming from somewhere. If humans are able to tap into that water and begin irrigating the surface then we have the potential to turn our dormant next door neighbor into a viable planet that humans could live on.

With seven billion humans and counting, I think it's worth a shot for us to start looking elsewhere to release some of the stress we are putting on this planet. And the fact that it is next door to us and not 10,000 light years away makes it something that we as a species can accomplish in the not too distant future.

L.A. Citizen

2015-09-28 11:50:13 AM

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Damn Jared.

Those are some high goals you set. We can't even decide on Coke or Pepsi down here. Most of us still act like apes.

Theres no breathable air.....so you believe that we can re-create the exact same conditions of our own planets beginnings????

Most of us can't even bake cookies..........I want some of that "girl scout cookie" you're partaking in at the moment.

jaredsxtn

2015-09-28 12:11:14 PM

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L.A. Citizen Wrote: Theres no breathable air.....so you believe that we can re-create the exact same conditions of our own planets beginnings????

If there is water then there is the potential that humans can plant crops and have a source of water to irrigate them. Plants then convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen (photosynthesis.) This process, repeated over and over and over again could (and I stress could) begin creating a life sustaining ecosystem.

It's not like this would happen over night, but turning Mars into a planet that humans could potentially populate would be a hell of a lot easier than finding some far off star that is light years away. We have the technology to reach Mars today. We do not have the technology, and won't for some time, for humans to travel outside of our solar system.

I think this is something we should all be excited about. Humans are trashing this planet and it's never too early to look for other options.

Chet Ruminski

2015-09-28 12:13:46 PM

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The pictures do not look uninviting. Communications with earth by cell phone would be entirely possible. Looking good already. With some stretch of the imagination it presents a scenario similar to Reagan's. Get Trump on it and maybe he could devise a plan to colonize Mars creating a genuine interest.

L.A. Citizen

2015-09-28 12:38:43 PM

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Jared,

The planet is going to be fine. Look at all the shit Earth has gone through........asteroid bombardment, super volcano, earth quakes.,climate shifts, tectonic formation,.... AND what.......you think us "little fleas" are going to destroy earth? No sir, Humans eventually will go away.....but this blue-green beautifil orb will be here until the Sun decides to give out.

Don't you think you're giving us a little toooo much credit. WE SUCK

Dutch

2015-09-28 03:38:31 PM

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jaredsxtn Wrote:
L.A. Citizen Wrote: Theres no breathable air.....so you believe that we can re-create the exact same conditions of our own planets beginnings????
If there is water then there is the potential that humans can plant crops and have a source of water to irrigate them. Plants then convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen (photosynthesis.) This process, repeated over and over and over again could (and I stress could) begin creating a life sustaining ecosystem.
It's not like this would happen over night, but turning Mars into a planet that humans could potentially populate would be a hell of a lot easier than finding some far off star that is light years away. We have the technology to reach Mars today. We do not have the technology, and won't for some time, for humans to travel outside of our solar system.
I think this is something we should all be excited about. Humans are trashing this planet and it's never too early to look for other options.

Jared, I have to laugh; sorry this tiny bit of water means nothing; to grow something edible, then you need lots of water. Also the soil has to have the right composition and bacteria to be able to grow anything on it. This earth when it started was also just a clump of lava; but it took millions of years before the first form of plant life as well animal life started. I doubt if humans going to Mars have that much patience. It is again a la la land story; so don't get too exited. The only option is to make our present planet in order and not thrash it then as a simple solution thrash another planet. Don't forget either that "climate" related to what we have here is also an factor to sustain life; you need the sun/rain/wind/ sea/ gravity/ cold and heat within certain limits to sustain life as we know it..

jaredsxtn

2015-09-28 05:46:19 PM

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Dutch Wrote: Jared, I have to laugh; sorry this tiny bit of water means nothing; to grow something edible, then you need lots of water. Also the soil has to have the right composition and bacteria to be able to grow anything on it. This earth when it started was also just a clump of lava; but it took millions of years before the first form of plant life as well animal life started. I doubt if humans going to Mars have that much patience. It is again a la la land story; so don't get too exited. The only option is to make our present planet in order and not thrash it then as a simple solution thrash another planet. Don't forget either that "climate" related to what we have here is also an factor to sustain life; you need the sun/rain/wind/ sea/ gravity/ cold and heat within certain limits to sustain life as we know it..

Meh--I tend to look at things a little differently. Where there's water there is life. It may not be the life we humans know and understand, but that doesn't mean this is some trivial finding by NASA.

It took millions (actually billions) of years before the first form of plant life ever showed up on this planet, but the first form of plant life didn't have human engineering and technology that could accelerate the process. It won't take us billions of years to grow and sustain life on Mars if there is a large source of water; it will take us decades to centuries. That is a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things.

And the only option isn't to just say that space travel is too hard so screw it. The only way we advance as a species is if we explore new planets, solar systems, and eventually galaxies. I doubt I will be walking this earth when we figure out a way to send humans to a solar system or planet in the Andromeda Galaxy, but I could definitely see myself still being alive when humans are living on Mars full time and human space flight figures out a way to make it outside of our tiny solar system and into the great unknown.

ClayTaylorNC

2015-09-28 06:34:04 PM

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jaredsxtn Wrote:
L.A. Citizen Wrote: Theres no breathable air.....so you believe that we can re-create the exact same conditions of our own planets beginnings????
If there is water then there is the potential that humans can plant crops and have a source of water to irrigate them. Plants then convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen (photosynthesis.) This process, repeated over and over and over again could (and I stress could) begin creating a life sustaining ecosystem.
It's not like this would happen over night, but turning Mars into a planet that humans could potentially populate would be a hell of a lot easier than finding some far off star that is light years away. We have the technology to reach Mars today. We do not have the technology, and won't for some time, for humans to travel outside of our solar system.
I think this is something we should all be excited about. Humans are trashing this planet and it's never too early to look for other options.

I completely agree with you Jared. This is incredible news. This was all over the front page of Reddit today. It was awesome to see tens of thousands of excited comments and scientific point of views from actual NASA employees. Of course, as always (unfortunately) there will always be a few people who could care less and try to be negative. But they quickly got weened out. If you have time, the Q&A thread from the scientist is definitely worth a read through. Here it is

I see it the same as you. The fact that there is flowing water on Mars is a sign of life to me. No matter the size of organism. Life is life. Another interesting thought, is if there is water on the surface, imagine what is underneath Just like here on earth, we have caves with damn near lakes underneath ground. On a planet like Mars where we know nothing about what's under the surface, there could be some extremely interesting things under that dirt that was forced down there whilst the planets surface was changing.

Hopefully we will know more soon. The most exciting thing to me is exploration under the surface. But unfortunately that will most likely take just as long or longer to explore.

Dutch

2015-09-29 01:44:46 PM

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L.A. Citizen Wrote:
Mr. Dutch
Yes Sir. Baker CA is the last city(town) in Death Valley by way to Las Vegas. Baker CA is known for having the biggest thermometer on Earth. And Yes . Theres a reason for that. HOT!!!!!!!!
There is a Denny's restaurant, Pizza Hut...a couple more shops and four gas stations......the rest......A VAST EMPTY HOT DESERT
Humans will be long extinct before we even think that we have the ability to colonize a planet........much less our moon

L.A. Yes I've been there; I doubt if Denny or Pizza hut will have that on Mars; what is the currency there anyway; do the Martians accept VISA? Not only will we be extinct, but also very broke; guess who has to pay for all the fun to and on Mars? It is not a 5 buck ride on the subway!! Anyway, just came back from my lawyer; I'm now the official owner of Mars (so the first arrivals have to pay taxes to me and get building permits ).

L.A. Citizen

2015-09-29 11:16:40 AM

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Mr. Dutch

Yes Sir. Baker CA is the last city(town) in Death Valley by way to Las Vegas. Baker CA is known for having the biggest thermometer on Earth. And Yes . Theres a reason for that. HOT!!!!!!!!

There is a Denny's restaurant, Pizza Hut...a couple more shops and four gas stations......the rest......A VAST EMPTY HOT DESERT

Humans will be long extinct before we even think that we have the ability to colonize a planet........much less our moon

Dutch

2015-09-29 08:33:03 AM

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jaredsxtn Wrote:
Dutch Wrote: Jared, I have to laugh; sorry this tiny bit of water means nothing; to grow something edible, then you need lots of water. Also the soil has to have the right composition and bacteria to be able to grow anything on it. This earth when it started was also just a clump of lava; but it took millions of years before the first form of plant life as well animal life started. I doubt if humans going to Mars have that much patience. It is again a la la land story; so don't get too exited. The only option is to make our present planet in order and not thrash it then as a simple solution thrash another planet. Don't forget either that "climate" related to what we have here is also an factor to sustain life; you need the sun/rain/wind/ sea/ gravity/ cold and heat within certain limits to sustain life as we know it..
Meh--I tend to look at things a little differently. Where there's water there is life. It may not be the life we humans know and understand, but that doesn't mean this is some trivial finding by NASA.
It took millions (actually billions) of years before the first form of plant life ever showed up on this planet, but the first form of plant life didn't have human engineering and technology that could accelerate the process. It won't take us billions of years to grow and sustain life on Mars if there is a large source of water; it will take us decades to centuries. That is a blink of an eye in the grand scheme of things.
And the only option isn't to just say that space travel is too hard so screw it. The only way we advance as a species is if we explore new planets, solar systems, and eventually galaxies. I doubt I will be walking this earth when we figure out a way to send humans to a solar system or planet in the Andromeda Galaxy, but I could definitely see myself still being alive when humans are living on Mars full time and human space flight figures out a way to make it outside of our tiny solar system and into the great unknown.

No Jared; you are mistaken; just a question: why don't people live in death valley (except a tourist outing place). Lets colonialize that first. Another question: Who owns Mars? Are we just going to grab it like spoiled brats; are we any better than the Russians?? Also water; as I said is by itself not a sustainable element. Don't forget water here has all kind of living microscobic life in it; the Mars water is likely just distilled water with some sediments in it. Also I guess it does not rain; so how is it recirculated or replenished? So if humans want to live there, I doubt if they go to the beach or Disneyland ; they'll be fed up in no time looking at barren rocks and ask for mammy. Walking all day in a pressure suit or be confined to a to be built "dome" then they may as well sent a psychiatrist with them. Ask the people who are regularly in the space station what it is to be confined in one place all the time. At least they can go home at regular intervals; doubt if that is the case on Mars. Let alone supply and re-supply as well the cost of any such experiment. Lets feed the poor here on earth first before we become lunatic.

pr

2015-09-29 06:32:32 AM

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It sounds like the perfect place to set up a colony of Libertarian explorers! Perhaps also send a few Christiam demi-gods (like Ted Cruz) along to help with saving the natives, if they find any?

TJ

2015-09-30 07:16:27 PM

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Plant crops ? Imagine the tiny oxygen masks that we'll need for the bee's to pollinate the new crops. Oh wait....no bee's.

Dutch

2015-10-01 08:43:29 AM

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TJ Wrote: Plant crops ? Imagine the tiny oxygen masks that we'll need for the bee's to pollinate the new crops. Oh wait....no bee's.

T.J. Why don't you start a factory building tiny spacesuits for bee's? Anyway , this whole thing is far fetched; we barely can pay our debt, let alone have a budget for Mars exploration. May be sent an rocket up there with a seed bomb; seed the place and see what happens. My guess "nothing"!!!

jaredsxtn

2015-10-01 04:28:35 PM

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