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olePigeon · Mar 16, 2007, 10:31 AM

SPACE.com -- Giant Pool of Water Ice at Mars' South Pole

Apparently there's enough water at the polar caps to cover the entire surface of the planet in 10 meters of water!

This also means that it's very likely Mars had oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. The hunt for life is looking very promising! Not to mention that it is now very feasible to have a permanent settlement on Mars because water is no longer an issue.

Very cool!

Big Mac · Mar 16, 2007, 10:34 AM

So is it the implicit belief among scientists that Mars experienced Global Cooling?

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 16, 2007, 10:37 AM

I think people have always been sure of it but finding the proof was the problem. Personally I am convinced there was some simple forms of life on Mars at one point with the possibility of some bacteria's etc still living in the ice beneath the surface.

Props to God for thinking ahead to assist in future human settlement on another plant! Oh and the dinosaurs for the oils

olePigeon · Mar 16, 2007, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Big Mac

So is it the implicit belief among scientists that Mars experienced Global Cooling?

No.

olePigeon · Mar 16, 2007, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

I think people have always been sure of it but finding the proof was the problem. Personally I am convinced there was some simple forms of life on Mars at one point with the possibility of some bacteria's etc still living in the ice beneath the surface.

There's a good possibility for that, perhaps even more complex organisms. It's definately plausible that there are large aquifers or hot springs under the surface. We've seen evidence of water seeping through the ground, erroding the surface, then freezing again. Both Spirit and Opportunity have gone through "mud" and what looked like water freezing on the surface as they tracked through it. They think that the surface water might have a very high concentration of salt, so it stays a liquid when it's just beneath the surface.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 16, 2007, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

There's a good possibility for that, perhaps even more complex organisms. It's definately plausible that there are large aquifers or hot springs under the surface.

I don't think there is anything as complex as a worm on Mars but I do think they could be some really interesting sea life living on Europa.

olePigeon · Mar 16, 2007, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

I don't think there is anything as complex as a worm on Mars but I do think they could be some really interesting sea life living on Europa.

Europa is definately exciting. I don't remember when it's launching (or if it's already launched) but there're plans for a drilling/submersible probe to go to Europa.

ort888 · Mar 16, 2007, 11:52 AM

The magnitude of this discovery is mind-boggling.

Can you imagine going into your local 7-11 and walking out with a bottle of Mars spring water? Amazing.

olePigeon · Mar 16, 2007, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by ort888

The magnitude of this discovery is mind-boggling.

Can you imagine going into your local 7-11 and walking out with a bottle of Mars spring water? Amazing.

I'm still having a hard time grasping the concept of paying for water here on Earth. It's water.

xi_hyperon · Mar 16, 2007, 12:21 PM

Actually, the alien mechanism in Total Recall could really work to release oxygen. We just have to find it.

highstakes · Mar 16, 2007, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by ort888

Can you imagine going into your local 7-11 and walking out with a bottle of Mars spring water? Amazing.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 16, 2007, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

I'm still having a hard time grasping the concept of paying for water here on Earth. It's water.

Full of chorines, anti-depressants, and hormones from birth control pills. No filtration does not get rid of most of it.

villalobos · Mar 16, 2007, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

I think people have always been sure of it but finding the proof was the problem. Personally I am convinced there was some simple forms of life on Mars at one point with the possibility of some bacteria's etc still living in the ice beneath the surface.

Props to God for thinking ahead to assist in future human settlement on another plant! Oh and the dinosaurs for the oils

I would be excited to see whether there are amino acids too and especially whether their stereospecificity is the same as on earth...

centerchannel68 · Mar 16, 2007, 02:07 PM

Pfft. God just put that there to trick you into not believing in him. He's testing yall. And yall was used because that's how Christians communicate, right?

haha.

Gossamer · Mar 16, 2007, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by centerchannel68

Pfft. God just put that there to trick you into not believing in him. He's testing yall. And yall was used because that's how Christians communicate, right?

haha.

lpkmckenna · Mar 16, 2007, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES

Full of chorines, anti-depressants, and hormones from birth control pills. No filtration does not get rid of most of it.

Le'me guess: your favorite style of hat:

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 16, 2007, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

Le'me guess: your favorite style of hat:

Yup that's it.

Oh and from one canadian to another:

"The federal government's first study of pharmaceuticals in drinking water will confirm traces of common painkillers, anti-cholesterol drugs and the antidepressant Prozac are ending up in the treated water that Canadians drink, CanWest News Service has learned.

A study by researchers from the National Water Research Institute for Health and Environment Canada, designed to gauge how efficiently plants removed traces of drugs from drinking water, found nine different drugs in water samples taken near 20 drinking water treatment plants across southern Ontario."

Articles - Prozac, Painkillers & Hormones Found in Tap Water

And from the US:

"An update, released in August 2004, says that sewage treatment plants do not remove the chemicals--they are, in fact, part of the problem. Robert Morris, MD, PhD, an environmental health consultant and professor at Tufts University, says, "... Treatment systems were all initially designed to get rid of bacteria and viruses. They have filters and use chlorine, but that doesn't do a whole lot to get rid of chemical contaminants."

Medications in drinking water Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients - Find Articles

Hermit · Mar 16, 2007, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon

Actually, the alien mechanism in Total Recall could really work to release oxygen. We just have to find it.

I have the map. I just haven't decided if I'm going to donate it to NASA or put it up on ebay.

analogue SPRINKLES · Mar 16, 2007, 03:02 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Apparently there's enough water at the polar caps to cover the entire surface of the planet in 10 meters of water!

10 Meters!?

Eek is right!

kick52 · Mar 16, 2007, 05:37 PM

this is interesting.

Spliff · Mar 16, 2007, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

SPACE.com -- Giant Pool of Water Ice at Mars' South Pole

Apparently there's enough water at the polar caps to cover the entire surface of the planet in 10 meters of water!

This also means that it's very likely Mars had oceans, lakes, rivers, etc. The hunt for life is looking very promising! Not to mention that it is now very feasible to have a permanent settlement on Mars because water is no longer an issue.

Very cool!

Awesome! Now let's start terraforming Mars so we can move there.