Has Phoenix found something more compelling than Water?

[scotthm]

This article was just brought to my attention, and I was wondering if anyone else had heard anything about this.

Apparently, an undisclosed Phoenix scientist has been in communication with Aviation Week concerning a “compelling” discovery on the Red Planet. What could this news be? Obviously it’s something important as NASA and the University of Arizona are going to great lengths to keep the details out of the public domain. Plus, Phoenix scientists have presented their preliminary findings to the Bush Administration’s Presidential Science Advisor. The report suggests that there has been an even more significant discovery from the robotic explorer, not only from the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (or “TEGA,” the instrument used to bake Martian samples) which confirmed the presence of water, but from the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) instrument. MECA has apparently found even more evidence for the “potential for life” on Mars. But this “evidence” will be the biggest discovery yet.

However, the Phoenix team need more time to analyse the complex data they’ve received and will wait till mid-August at the earliest to make a press release. Scientists are keen to point out that they have not discovered direct evidence for life on Mars (after all, Phoenix is not equipped to do this), but the indication is this new data will be even more profound than the discovery of water.

As if that wasn’t enough, it looks like they’ve had to take this news to the top. Advising the White House is a pretty big deal, so we’ll just have to wait and see what Phoenix has uncovered…

http://www.astroengine.com/?p=596

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[Supernuke]

Yeah actually I saw the story yesterday on Slashdot. I figured it wasn't credible because that as the only source I could find. I'll be skeptical until I see a legitimate and credible source take the story.

Here's the one that I saw:
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/08/02/133259

 

[Lindley]

Didn't we learn our lesson last time, folks? What NASA considers "major" and what the rest of us do aren't always the same thing.

 

[scotthm]

What NASA considers "major" and what the rest of us do aren't always the same thing.

I'm tending to think this may be the case.

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[Nedersong]

I don't understand why it'll be so profound.

 

[Zachary Smith]

This image was leaked, apparently taken by the lander a few days back.

We might *just* be in trouble, folks . .

 

[Alpha_Geek]

Could be peer review and publish of the water evidence fron the oven experiment. It ain't good sicence till it's peer-reviewed and published, according to my ex gf with a PHD in repro biology.

AG

 

[FatherRob]

The folks at NASA I have read discussing this at NASASpaceFlight.com have noted that it appears to be more an issue about methane than life; one scientist said it had something to do with the ability to grow stuff in the soil, while another noted that methane is a byproduct of most life... thus demonstrating that circumstantial evidence shows the possibility for life.

It will probably be later in the week before we hear anything more definate. That being said, LiveScience and space.com is carrying the story.

Rob+

 

[Sheliak]

They probably found a hair follicle from a woolly mammoth.

 

[James Bond]

NASA Scientist: Reports of Mars Life Finding Are 'Bogus'

 

[Nedersong]

I think it's funny how the whole thing is a confirmation of the possibility of MArs supporting life in the distant past.

oh boy.


That's really something to get hyper about.

YAY!

It deserves one clap!

 

[Ariadne]

The folks at NASA I have read discussing this at NASASpaceFlight.com have noted that it appears to be more an issue about methane than life; one scientist said it had something to do with the ability to grow stuff in the soil, while another noted that methane is a byproduct of most life... thus demonstrating that circumstantial evidence shows the possibility for life.

And, also, natural gas. Which can be used to make oil. (Or, you know, burned on it's own. But people don't always do what is the good idea.)

 

[phoenix96]

And, also, natural gas. Which can be used to make oil. (Or, you know, burned on it's own. But people don't always do what is the good idea.)

Natural gas is not used to "make" oil. Natural gas is often associated with oil (i.e. it's found in some of the same places).

 

[broberfett]

Even if the probe landed right next to the aliens and they were intelligent and waved(from learning about us from our plentiful communications), NASA would conceal it. So they are never going to reveal any existence of life until it is so obvious that people are laughing at them.

 

[scotthm]

Even if the probe landed right next to the aliens and they were intelligent and waved(from learning about us from our plentiful communications), NASA would conceal it.

The people at NASA are so anxious to find evidence of extraterrestrial life that they're willing to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to look for it. These are the people who set up news conferences just to tell us things like the soil on Mars having the right PH to grow asparagus. If they found evidence of an amino acid on Mars they'd fall all over themselves trying to get the news out.

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[scotthm]

If this is the news Phoenix has discovered it's going to disappoint a lot of people.

Scientists previously reported that the soil near Mars' north pole was similar to backyard gardens on Earth where plants such as asparagus, green beans and turnips could grow. But preliminary results from a second lab test found perchlorate, a highly oxidizing salt, that would create a harsh environment.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080805/D92BSNEO0.html

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[Squiggy]

This image was leaked, apparently taken by the lander a few days back.

We might *just* be in trouble, folks . .

IMAGE REDACTED DUE TO NATIONAL SECURITY

Quiet you!

Even if the probe landed right next to the aliens and they were intelligent and waved(from learning about us from our plentiful communications), NASA would conceal it.

The people at NASA are so anxious to find evidence of extraterrestrial life that they're willing to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to look for it. These are the people who set up news conferences just to tell us things like the soil on Mars having the right PH to grow asparagus. If they found evidence of an amino acid on Mars they'd fall all over themselves trying to get the news out.

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Well, they'd fall over themselves because it would be a fairly big deal...scientifically. Think about it. If amino acids (a basic component of life) can be found in two planets in one system...the odds of life existing out there just shot up.

If you're thinking the only worthwhile reason to hold a newser or briefing is because we found the skeleton of some advanced species, you're going to be disapointed.

 

[scotthm]

Think about it. If amino acids (a basic component of life) can be found in two planets in one system...the odds of life existing out there just shot up.

Right, from 1 in 500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 to 1 in 250,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

If you're thinking the only worthwhile reason to hold a newser or briefing is because we found the skeleton of some advanced species, you're going to be disapointed.

No, I think finding the ruins of an ancient city on Mars would be just as newsworthy.

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[Zachary Smith]

Could be they found the palace of Aries . . .

 

[Venardhi]

Think about it. If amino acids (a basic component of life) can be found in two planets in one system...the odds of life existing out there just shot up.

Right, from 1 in 500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 to 1 in 250,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

If life formed on two planets in one solar system, that means Earth isn't as special as we once thought. Life forming on 2 planets, no matter how simple and small or how long ago, makes the odds of a life-filled universe far better than you would suggest.