Water On Mars – Or Not

Considering everything that’s happening on Earth – with its exploding population and dwindling resources – the idea of off-planet settlements looks better all the time.

The Mars Homestead Project has plans in the works. Consisting of 30 volunteer scientists and technicians, this organization believes its possible to begin with present-day technology. Unfortunately, recent news has come to light that could stop everything. Water, as any schoolchild knows, is necessary for the existence of carbon-based life. For the past several years, scientists have speculated that liquid water may indeed exist on Mars. This is based on their observation of “gullies” on the surface similar to the NASA photo above.

Last week, however, University of Arizona researcher Gwendolyn Bart presented a paper at the 37th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference indicating the similarities between the Mars gullies and those found on the lunar surface. Moon gullies were formed as a result of meteor strikes and geologic tremors. Bart goes on to say that such gullies could form as a result of wind action. While she does not dismiss the possibility of liquid water on Mars (scientists still hold out hope that underground aquifers may exist), she urges caution. “My point is that you can’t just look at the Mars gullies and assume they were formed by water. It may be, or may be not. We need another test to know,” she states.

Considering everything that’s happening on Earth – with its exploding population and dwindling resources – the idea of off-planet settlements looks better all the time.

The Mars Homestead Project has plans in the works. Consisting of 30 volunteer scientists and technicians, this organization believes its possible to begin with present-day technology. Unfortunately, recent news has come to light that could stop everything. Water, as any schoolchild knows, is necessary for the existence of carbon-based life. For the past several years, scientists have speculated that liquid water may indeed exist on Mars. This is based on their observation of “gullies” on the surface similar to the NASA photo above.

Last week, however, University of Arizona researcher Gwendolyn Bart presented a paper at the 37th Annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference indicating the similarities between the Mars gullies and those found on the lunar surface. Moon gullies were formed as a result of meteor strikes and geologic tremors. Bart goes on to say that such gullies could form as a result of wind action. While she does not dismiss the possibility of liquid water on Mars (scientists still hold out hope that underground aquifers may exist), she urges caution. “My point is that you can’t just look at the Mars gullies and assume they were formed by water. It may be, or may be not. We need another test to know,” she states.