Possibility for life on Mars


Definitions

Nitrous oxide (laughing gas)- is a colorless gas with a sweetish odor. It is also a major greenhouse gas and air pollutant. It has 298 times more impact per unit weight than carbon dioxide.           

Brine- is water almost are completely saturated with a salt, which usually sodium chloride.

Martian nitrogen cycle- it is possible that nitrogen may have played a key role in the early evolution of life on Mars, and that later a lack of available nitrogen on that planet may have been involved in its subsequent extinction.

   

Summary

From the University of Georgia, Professor Samantha Joye and her team disclose their discovery of a new chemical apparatus that produces nitrous oxide. This revelation was made at Don Juan Pond in Antarctica. This pond is eighteen times saltier than Earth’s oceans. Even in temperatures as low as negative forty degrees Fahrenheit the pond never freezes. Soil and brine are similar to those found on Mars. For finding microbial activity in extreme conditions this pond was ideal. Although no biogases were discovered, Joye and her team encountered high concentrations of nitrous oxide. “The reaction of brine-derived nitrates with basaltic rock could … mobilize nitrate from surface soils and return it to the Martian atmosphere as nitrous oxide.” This is a very important component in the Martian nitrogen cycle. The chemical apparatus is that nitrogen is needed to spark life on Mars. Just like a fire needs a spark to start it, life on Mars needs nitrogen to start it. If this chemical apparatus could be transported or undercovered in Mars eventually life on Mars may be possible.
  

Discussion

I think learning about life on Mars is very important. Resources left on Earth are starting to diminish and people need a large place to live. By the 2070 there will be about 128 billion people on the Earth. The Earth is starting to have population problems and if we can discover a new resource base similar to Earth it would make a substantial difference in life as we know it.

Questions

What other components besides nitrogen enable people to live on Mars?

What other places on Earth have conditions like the Don Juan Pond?

Citations:

"Non-organic greenhouse gas producer found." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 16 Sept. 2010. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=UPI-1-20100427-121924-bc-us-donjuanpond-crn&SingleRecord=True>.

RL., Mancinelli, et al. "Biological Nitrogen Fixation under Primordial Martian 
     Partial Pressures of Dinitrogen." Pub Med. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2010. 
     <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11537369>.

hoax-slayer.com

http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/exhibitgcc/causes02.jsp