Could Microbes On Mars Survive?
For
years, scientists have been trying to figure out if our earthen microbes can
survive on Mars. In an experiment chamber that replicates the conditions on
Mars, a specific microbe has been found to survive. This bacteria, Serratia
liquefaciens, can grow in the chamber, which scientists did not expect. In
fact, most of the microbes that were tested did not survive the experiment, so
this came as quite a shock to them. For these scientists, knowing that microbes
can indeed live on Mars means that life on Mars cannot be ruled out. Therefore,
preserving Mars natural state is key to making sure its spark of life keeps on
going.
The root of the problem is really
hitchhiking. By that, I mean microbes traveling on spacecrafts, or attaching to
anything or anyone that sets foot on Mars. What we really need is to be
cautious and make sure that anything travelling to Mars is free of microbes.
That means taking some serious precautions, since microbes are so incredibly invisible,
to ensure that we don’t contaminate Mars with our microbes. Because if there
really is life on Mars, by allowing our microbes to travel there, we could ruin
and change what life might have been there.
Many people believe that even if
microbes did get to Mars, they would all just simply die. What they don’t
realize is that there are all kinds of microbes, some of which can withstand
extreme and harsh conditions. These microbes are called extremophiles, and with
access to Mars, they might be able to withstand the conditions. Even if, lets
say, they do all die on Mars, is it really worth the risk of contamination by
bringing them from one planet to another? This is why it’s important to avoid
that risk, limit and dim down that risk as much as possible. By ensuring proper
cleaning, and taking all measures seriously, we might be able to avoid
infecting Mars with our earthen microbes and allow Mars to develop on its own
time.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/11/earth-bacteria-mars-microbes_n_2455590.html
Whilst reading this blog, I became very intrigued on your passion for life on other planets. Since that topic is so sensitive I thought it was cool how you just went in on the matter and wrote what you felt and what you believed in. Given that, I became very interested in how there can be life on mars as well as on the other six planets. The part where you say that we have to be very cautious of how sterile things have to be when “hitchhiking” life somewhere else, because our microbes can infect that planet and ruin the chances of said planet from “expanding/growing” life on its own. I thought that was really fascinating. Another thing was with the extremophiles, and how they can live under conditions that are too great for humans as well as certain animals and a number of different kinds of microbes. I enjoyed your post very much, thank you Ana!
ReplyDelete-Dennis Gabaldon
As the research continues in search for life on other planets. Mars came to one of the top of the list of planets having life. From what I know to the respect, it comes down to the conclusion of whether or not whoever steps on or enters mars exchanges the microbes come from one planet to mars, for example all the shuttles and chambers going from our planet to mars can have microbes, which thus while landing will cause whatever microbes the shuttle had will drop to the surface on mars. Which, while searching for specimen or any bacterial like samples, it could come down to picking up the microbes exchanged from the shuttle. Thus cause the belief of life on mars exist.
ReplyDeleteI liked how your article attacked both sides quite well if life does or doesn’t exist on mars. Knowing how well the article attacked the belief on life on mars, still doesn’t change my opinion on it. Till one can physically show the existence on mars. Yet things don’t seem to be that easy. Yet it will be an interesting wait to see it happen.
Jose
Really nice job! You developed the analysis and the argument well.
ReplyDeleteMicrobes can indeed survive in incredible places and under the harshest conditions (to us that is).
Ana, your blog was a great example of argument.
ReplyDelete