Written by Yonje R. (KIS'19)
Edited by Gina L. (KIS'20)
━━ April 3, 2018 ━━
“If we find life on another planet, will it be truly alien or will it be related to us?” questioned Dina Pasini, researcher of the University of Kent. This possibility, the slimmest chance that life on Mars might actually be possible, has always intrigued scientists in a significant manner. From what we have accumulated today, varying pieces of evidence and research have given astronomers enough hope to continue their quest to find life on this mysterious planet. Although no firm proof actually exists, scientists and professionals are still constantly on the lookout for any cumulative evidence which might prove that life on Mars exists.
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Why Life on Mars has Yet to be Found
It all started in the mid 17th century, when polar ice caps surfaced across the land of Mars. Only thought to be a simple coincidence, many ignored this discovery and did not invest in the idea that life could take form on Mars. It wasn’t until the end of the 18th century when British astronomer William Herschel discovered that the ice caps in fact grew and shrunk repeatedly, alternating between the different seasons during the year. By the 19th century, advancements in the scientific field had been further advanced and modified, allowing various astronomers to uncover how Mars shared a vast range of similarities with Earth. Such examples included similar lengths of day (24 hours and 39 minutes on Mars, 23 hours and 56 minutes on Earth), similar axial tilts (about 25 degrees on Mars, about 23.5 degrees on Earth), and similar atmospheres (both planets consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide). It was also during this time period when telescopic observations had begun to be made, proving the theory that Mars consisted of mass bodies of water, such as large seas and areas of land, which was fertile for life to thrive.
Despite all this research done in regards of existence of life on Mars, many scientists and astronomers express a different theory: life on Mars does not actually exist and this is simply not possible. To start off, there are a variety of reasons that contribute to this theory. The toxic soil and the water-rock reaction on the planet that has caused its surface to dry out are two of the more popular theories entailing as to why the possibility of life on Mars is quite slim. The soil on Mars, which consists of nutrients far different from that of Earth has been known to prevent the thriving of living organisms and the water-rock reaction, a mechanism that is composed from the mafic rocks that are rich in iron and magnesium.
Most recently, scientists have confirmed that the Martian soil could be detrimental to not only living organisms but to bacteria as well; this is according to a new study done in Scientific Reports by Jennifer Wadsworth and Charles Cockell, a postgraduate student and professor of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Physics and Astronomy, who created a simulation of the soil of Mars in their own laboratory. Wadsworth and Cockell had gotten their influence for this lab after carefully recounting the landings of the Viking 1 and 2 back in 1976. Due to the fact that there were very little studies concerning Martian soil following the landings of Viking 1 and 2, Wadsworth and Cockell were intrigued to see what they could possibly find from thoroughly performing their experiment. Already knowing that there were abundant amounts of perchlorates (an excessively oxidized form of chlorine) in the Martian soil, Wadsworth and Cockell used a common bacteria found on Earth (Bacillus subtilis) to determine whether the bacteria would survive on the Martian soil, which is also known to have a high quantity of ultraviolet radiation. After immersing the bacteria in a solution of magnesium perchlorate, a stimulation of what can be found in natural forms in Mars, they exposed the bacteria to ultraviolet radiation in similar proportions of wavelengths that were emitted in Mars. With this expected result, the rate of survival for these bacteria was concluded zero as they sterilized completely within a matter of seconds. When the duo retried their experiment without soaking the bacteria in perchlorate, the group of bacteria did indeed survive twice as longer than the previous group of bacteria; however, they were not able to withstand the ultraviolet radiation and were eventually wiped out.
In addition to this experiment, a mechanism unique to Mars is a crucial piece of evidence that shows that life on Mars is not possible. From the time that scientists have discovered Mars, several have always been puzzled by the lack of water on the planet. Although there have been many theories, examples depicting the planet’s water being absorbed into space after Mars’ magnetic field have subsided. Regarding this data, researchers at the University of Oxford have come up with a new hypothesis, one in which evidence can be used to support it. These researchers suggest that water does in fact exist on the planet but due to unsteady chemical reactions from its rocky crust, the water is kept away, “locked away” in its core surface. According to Dr Jon Wade, the researcher in charge of this study, “On Mars, water reacts with the freshly erupted lavas that form its basaltic crust resulted in a sponge-like effect,” which as a result, absorbs all sources of water that may have been visible to humans. This water-rock reaction, a scientific mechanism in which both mafic and ultramafic rocks reaction at extremely high temperatures to produce H2, has also played a crucial role in Wade’s theory of the disappearance of water. Because this theory and study is a unceasing process, the researchers and scientists at the University of Oxford have not made any rash conclusions but have stated that they will continue to build upon their research and experiments.
In the end, does life on Mars really exist? Or do these recent studies and experiments show otherwise? With the modern technological advances and the in-depth studies that have been revolving around this pressing issue, it is safe to say that the chances of life on Mars are becoming slimmer and slimmer as more and more discoveries and theories point that Mars is a planet uninhabitable. Unless a revolutionary piece of evidence surfaces, the toxic soil and the water-rock reaction are two strong candidates supporting the hypothesis that the survival rates on Mars are very close to none.
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Bibliography:
- Contributor, Nola Taylor Redd Space.com. “Life on Mars: Exploration & Evidence.”
Space.com, 14 Dec. 2017, www.space.com/17135-life-on-mars.html.
- David, SPACE.com Leonard. “If We Found Life on Mars, How Would We Know?” Scientific
American, 13 Feb. 2018,
- Dunbar, Brian. “Exploration: Life on Mars?” NASA, NASA, 15 Oct. 2003,
5.html.
- Fecht, Sarah. “The Surface of Mars Is Probably Too Toxic for Bacteria to Survive.” Popular
Science, 6 July 2017, www.popsci.com/bacteria-mars.
- Gabbatiss Science Correspondent, Josh. “Scientists Finally Establish Why There Is No Life on Mars.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 20 Dec. 2017,
nation-ufo-alien-a8120796.html.
- “Is There Life on Mars?” NASA, NASA, 23 May 2014,
- Kluger, Jeffrey. “Why Life on Mars May Be Impossible.” Time, 17 July 2017,
- Vazquez, Laurie. “Want to Live on Mars? First We'll Have to Solve These Two Big
Problems.” Big Think, 2 Dec. 2016
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#spectra #astronomy #physics #mars #lifeonmars
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