Asparagus Could Grow On Mars, Nasa Claim

[Suteki 114]

Asparagus could grow on Mars, Nasa scientists claim

 

Life on Mars could be supported by nutrients in the soil, Nasa scientists said last night.

 

First analysis of samples gleaned from Nasa's Phoenix Lander mission shows the ground is alkaline - just right to grow asparagus or green beans.

 

'This is very exciting,' said Sam Kounaves, the mission's lead analyst.

 

'We were all flabbergasted. We have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life whether past present or future. It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well.'

This NASA image shows a microscopic view of fine-grained material at the tip of the Robotic Arm scoop on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander

 

The scientists said it was still too early to say if life, even mere microbes, existed on Mars. But Kounaves added: 'There is nothing about the soil that would preclude life. In fact it seems very friendly... there is nothing about it that is toxic.'

 

The samples, heated in a small oven on the Lander, contained nutrients that are water soluble, hinting they were deposited by liquid water, though scientists do not know if the water flowed to the dig site or the minerals blew on to the site in dust. They were also found to have a pH between eight and nine, which surprised researchers who had believed the soil would be too acidic to support life.

Little green plant: Asparagus from outer space

 

The Phoenix landed on Mars on May 25 after a ten-month journey. Since then the three-legged Lander has been scooping up soil and ice from under the surface of the red planet's northern arctic region.

 

Last night's breakthrough came a week after the Phoenix hit what is thought to be an ice layer two inches below the surface.

 

But if there were life on the red planet - a big if - scientists believe it would likely be microscopic and hardy, capable of withstanding colder-than-Antarctica temperatures and low pressures.

 

Source:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/art...ists-claim.html

[Speedskater 167]

Gj Suteki, so the water is at about salty water or oceans should of led green algea and comparing to are planet that would of led to plants like trees

Edited June 29, 2008 by Speedskater

[Vailence 30]

Imagine finding this life-form, even if only in the form of bacteria. You could cross the genetics with normal crops, and create corn that could grow in the winter effortlessly, MASSIVLY enhancing, and permanetly changeing the produce world as we know it.

 

Big if? Theres gotta be atleast one cell out there, if we get this single cell? First, we risk an alien biological attack, one which would be 100 times worse, less cureable, and much more vicious then that of the Black Plague.. on the plus side we will evolve as a species 100 times over with a possible increase in base compuations, up to an INFINITE number with the combination of current bio-chip(base32) and the extra biological system of another planets life-form, not to mention the horrid increase in medical funding for the purpose of creating bio-cures which are capable of bypassing "Terra Prime" biological presets, such as the fact that virus's cannot be killed, since they are between life and death(only existance which doesent either follow all 7 rules of life, or follow 0 of them)

 

If infected, it would enhance our bilogical systems and change or presets instantly, we would evolve hundreds of years backwards or forwards within a couple of years...

 

Thats fucked up, I might even live to see it!!! xD!!!

Edited July 6, 2008 by Vailence