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Old 07-31-2008, 01:46 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Water on Mars, Confirmed!
Quote:
The Associated Press Published July 31, 2008
LOS ANGELES: The Phoenix spacecraft has tasted Martian water for the first time.

The robot heated up ice in one of its instruments earlier this week. Scientists say the chemical test confirms the presence of ice near the Martian north pole.

Until now, the evidence for ice has been circumstantial. That was based on photos Phoenix took of a hard splotchy area near its landing site and changes it saw in a trench.

Phoenix landed in the Martian arctic on May 25 on a three-month digging mission. NASA on Thursday said it was extending the mission another two months.


Edit: Here's an article with a little more of the science behind the confirmation: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/gene...ng_ice_on_Mars
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Old 07-31-2008, 01:48 PM   #2 (permalink)
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I bet Al Gore is already screaming about global warming on Mars now that the ice cap has shrunk!!
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Old 07-31-2008, 01:55 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Yay.



How many million/billion $$ did it take to figure that out?

From a scientific perspective, I really appreciate the discovery. From an economic standpoint...well...
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Old 07-31-2008, 01:58 PM   #4 (permalink)
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tap, flat, or carbonated?

this is actually very cool, because where there's water, there's life. and where there's life, there's the possibility of micro-brew.
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:00 PM   #5 (permalink)
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That's pretty amazing. All the circumstantial evidence that's been there for years has all but confirmed this before (i.e. erosional patterns, meanders, etc.), but it's still pretty cool to have real evidence.
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Originally Posted by sdyeti View Post
Yay.

How many million/billion $$ did it take to figure that out?

From a scientific perspective, I really appreciate the discovery. From an economic standpoint...well...
Yeah, it's tough when you have to justify the expense of something that's just so absolutely cool. Personally, i'd happily pay a bit more in taxes for pure science like this. And the budget for this type of thing, when taken into context of the overall national budget, isn't all that much. Seems like it sometimes, but there's something to be said for mankind's pursuit of knowledge too...
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:01 PM   #6 (permalink)
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tap, flat, or carbonated?
Nope, alcoholic
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:06 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by schleppp View Post
I bet Al Gore is already screaming about global warming on Mars now that the ice cap has shrunk!!
That would be right after he builds a million square foot home that uses $100,000/yr in electricity on it.
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:10 PM   #8 (permalink)
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yep, he's just another idiot nobel prize winner.
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:10 PM   #9 (permalink)
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With that said, I'm sure it's time to triple their efforts!!! $$$$ I bet there was nerd fest at the local bars that night as well.

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Originally Posted by sdyeti View Post
Yay.



How many million/billion $$ did it take to figure that out?

From a scientific perspective, I really appreciate the discovery. From an economic standpoint...well...
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:14 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Nope, alcoholic
how soon can we send humans to mars? And what do I have to do to get on that crew?
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:15 PM   #11 (permalink)
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if water is h20, then that means that there is oxygen of some amount, and the possibility of carbon based life!
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:24 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Can.... can... can we RIDE there?!!?
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:28 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Imagine the downhill you could do on Olympus Mons, the highest point on Mars. The peak is 88,000' above the surroundings, and it's a nice volcanic slope.... breathing equipment required though
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:33 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sdyeti View Post
Yay.



How many million/billion $$ did it take to figure that out?

From a scientific perspective, I really appreciate the discovery. From an economic standpoint...well...
it is doesn't come cheap or easy.......
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:34 PM   #15 (permalink)
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I could be wrong, but just because there's water doesn't mean that there is free oxygen (O2). It could be bound up in non-organic compounds.

Look at our planet...lots of water but the atmosphere is only 20% oxygen.

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if water is h20, then that means that there is oxygen of some amount, and the possibility of carbon based life!
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:35 PM   #16 (permalink)
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if water is h20, then that means that there is oxygen of some amount, and the possibility of carbon based life!
Yeah, but what about carbon based bikes? Thats the question?
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:35 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Like I said, I can totally appreciate the quest for knowledge and scientific accomplishment this represents.

Was just playing devil's advocate...

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it is doesn't come cheap or easy.......
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:37 PM   #18 (permalink)
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H2O on the Red planet!
Love it..

I hope I live long enough to see the day life is confirmed on another planet.
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Old 07-31-2008, 02:47 PM   #19 (permalink)
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I hope I live long enough to see the day life is confirmed on another planet.
It's already been done ... there's life in Orange County.
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