Mars Shows Signs of Having Flowing Water

Clio Dakolias October 2, 2015

ES: D/135 Current Events

Chang, Kenneth. "Mars Shows Signs of Having Flowing Water, Possible Niches for Life, NASA Says." The New York Times. The New York Times, 28 Sept. 2015. Web. 02 Oct. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/science/space/mars-life-liquid-water.html?ref=space>.

The article, “Mars Shows Signs of Having Flowing Water, Possible Niches for Life, NASA Says,” by Kenneth Chang, helps try to prove the hypothesis that there may be life or may have been life on Mars using flowing water as evidence. While scientists have long known that there are polar ice caps on Mars, possible flowing water could be the basis of life on the terrestrial planet. Most organisms require the liquid form of water in order to survive. “...dark streaks descending along slopes of craters, canyons, and mountains” were recently discovered on Mars, which displays how the theoretical flowing water moves downhill, much like here on Earth. The streaks appeared in the summer, when the temperatures are warmer, and in the winter, the water freezes and the streaks disappear.

Scientists also believe that there is salt on Mars, based on recent photos taken by a spacecraft. As the hydraulic salt is created by water, this means that, “‘that’s a direct detection of water in the form of hydration of salts.’” Given that the salt was found near, as well as in the streaks and both the streaks and salt disappear in the winter, it is more than likely possible that there is a liquid form of water on Mars. Scientists still have almost no idea of where the water comes from, as it could be from both above or below. The possibility of the water coming from the high atmosphere is very low, as the humidity is low, barely enough for any precipitation to form at all. Because scientists have poor tests of the lower atmosphere, there is a small chance that it could be humid enough to produce water. The water could also be coming from inside Mars itself, where scientists have yet to test.

NASA also wishes to further explore Mars and discover for certain if water resides on the planet. They don’t plan on sending rovers for a couple more years, as NASA is worried that the rovers will carry organisms to Mars and contaminate it. Sterilization of the rovers is a costly process, one that NASA isn’t positive they want to carry through on yet. If the rovers ever did land on Mars, NASA plans to keep them away from the streaks of flowing water.

This article sheds light on how we are not alone in our universe, or even our solar system. Most people on Earth find it hard to understand that Earth is not the center of the universe, as they can’t comprehend how vast the world we live in is, and very few people can place our world in a bigger picture. Placing Earth in a bigger picture, or comparing Earth to the universe, can help educate more of Earth’s inhabitants on how we are not even close to the size of a grain of sand compared to the vastness of the universe. If scientists discover life on Mars, hopefully more people will see that there are other organisms, no matter how small, remarkably close to us. Earth most likely began with tiny organisms too, and it’s possible that the theoretical tiny organisms on Mars can grow. For decades, humans have been impartial to ‘aliens’ and have had dreams of inhabiting Mars. While this obviously isn’t going to happen anytime soon, it could happen in a few hundred years, as there is a possible water source, and water is the basis of life.

This article, based on possible life on Mars, was very compelling and comprehensive. It really helps readers understand how many chances there are of finding life out in our universe. There might even be two planets with life right here in our very own solar system. However, it would have been an even better article had there been more evidence about the possible water on Mars. Chang seems so positive that there is water on Mars, but he has very little evidence to support his theory. This article was based primarily on inferences, with very little tangible evidence included, as outer space is something we haven’t completely explored yet, and it is hard to know anything for sure. While the article is composed of guesses, most of the guesses seem to make reasonable hypotheses, and Chang managed to leave readers wanting to know more.