The threat from life on Mars

[Dover]

The threat from life on Mars

By Nigel Hawkes

Earth’s defences may need to be boosted against risk of potentially deadly microbes returning on space probes

EARTH must take precautions to avoid contamination from lifeforms that must now be presumed to exist on Mars, leading scientists gave warning yesterday.
Potentially deadly microorganisms could be returned to Earth on a probe which is being planned to collect samples from the Martian surface.

The warning comes after a detailed scientific analysis of data sent back by the roving vehicle Opportunity which landed on Mars on January 25.

Jeffrey Kargel of the US Geological Survey said that protection of our own planet from alien forms of life requires the assumption that Martian life exists. “Before proceeding with sample returns or human missions to Mars, we must review measures for planetary biological protection.”

His warning appears in Science magazine in an article accompanying the first formal publication of the mass of data from Opportunity, which continues to operate on the Martian surface...cont'd

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1385572,00.html

[BeyondThePale]

1. Preemptive Strike Against Mars NOW!

Clearly the Martian are stockpiling some of the most deadly WMD known to man (or Martian). We don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud. BTW, is there oil on Mars?

[itzamirakul]

2. Although the original post...

makes a lot of sense and should be taken seriously, I couldn't help but laugh at your response.

[DireStrike]

8. Hmm... oil?

If there is/was life, perhaps! Can microorganisms generate oil?

Of course some are still saying oil is abiotic...

[Huckebein the Raven]

15. Don't forget they can launch them in 45 mins.

[NuttyFluffers]

3. um, you mean they didn't plan for this?

oh dear god... wasn't there like the highest level of quarentining done for the probes that returned from the moon?

or is this like genetically modified organism experiments where they just throw the GMO crop seed outside and watch what happens?....

you'd think there'd be smart people in research laboratories. but how come there's no common sense in all that book knowledge?

[trotsky]

4. Of course they did.

The decontamination process from the moon visits was nothing compared to what a future Mars traveler will be subjected to. This is just an article to bring people's attention to the idea - it was undoubtedly part of NASA's planning even before the rovers confirmed the near-certainty of life on Mars.

[NuttyFluffers]

5. oh thank god.

but, i don't know if that's the best way to tell a populace that lives on baited breath for the next shoe to drop.

yet, is there a way to calmly warn of potential biological holocaust? perhaps not.

[CroixRoussienne]

6. Easy there fella!

Opportunity and Spirit have NOT "confirmed the near-certainty of life on Mars." Please cite your sources. Can this claim be found here?

[trotsky]

7. Why, are you scared of the possibility?

LOL your reaction is a little funny!

[DireStrike]

9. I didn't really think so.

Establishing "near proof" of life on mars would be a very big development. It's important to keep information on this topic straight.

Could you imagine how much money the fundies would pour into NASA and SETI if there might be aliens out there to proselytize to? :crazy:

[trotsky]

10. Obviously the possibility DOES scare people on here.

Why, I don't know.

From a geological standpoint, life on Mars is a near certainty. We now have evidence that not only did Mars have liquid water on its surface, but it had it for a long time. Considering how quickly life arose on Earth once there was liquid water, it would be MORE surprising, frankly, had some kind of life NOT been on Mars.

[DireStrike]

11. To borrow a line from Rumsferatu...

Unknown unknowns.

We've only studied two planetary environments where water was present, and one of those marginally. I don't yet see water as compelling proof of life. A prerequisite, sure (unless there are similar substances that can do it) but we are not completely aware of all such prerequisites.

[YankeyMCC]

12. It's it unlikely

that a completly independant evolutionary track would produce a microbe that would be able to interace with Earth biology?

[gorbal]

13. Exactly

We would be in more danger of a probe returning from a Las Vegas strip club.

:)

[pmbryant]

14. Probably

But given that we have no clue really, and given the potential consequences, it's certainly wise to be very, very careful.

--Peter