NASA Announcement - Life on Mars?

[lorenzo]

NASA creating massive speculation as to whether either water or life has existed on Mars. Embargoed until Monday, much speculation around as to what is the big reveal.

 

If it is evidence of life, then what a time to be alive as one of the most memorable moments in our life times, human endeavour providing evidence of life on another planet.

 

NASA to announce Mars mystery solved

 

(Nature Geoscience has Embargoed Details until 11 a.m. EDT Sept. 28)

 

NASA will detail a major science finding from the agency’s ongoing exploration of Mars during a news briefing at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 28 at the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The event will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

 

News conference participants will be: 

 

·         Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA Headquarters

 

·         Michael Meyer, lead scientist for the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters

 

·         Lujendra Ojha of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta

 

·         Mary Beth Wilhelm of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California and the Georgia Institute of Technology

 

·         Alfred McEwen, principal investigator for the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) at the University of Arizona in Tucson

 

A brief question-and-answer session will take place during the event with reporters on site and by phone. Members of the public also can ask questions during the briefing using #AskNASA.

 

To participate in the briefing by phone, reporters must email their name, media affiliation and telephone number to Steve Cole at stephen.e.cole@nasa.gov by 9 a.m. EDT on Monday.

 

For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and to view the news briefing, visit:

 

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

 

http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-announce-mars-mystery-solved

[Polar Maritime]

Certainly exiting stuff, As you say Lorenzo what a time to be alive to witness finding life on another planet beside our own. Much speculation over the net.. Roll on Monday! 

[BornFromTheVoid]

From what I've read, it's most likely going to be confirmation of seasonal, flowing, briny water on the surface.

[Daniel*]

Martians?

Maybe under the polar ice-caps they've discovered martian aquatic worms.

[Methuselah]

Any truth the rumour, that Call Me Dave's and Gideon's 'ordinary hard-working families' are about to open spice mines, just south of Olympus Mons?

[Ǝssex Ǝasterly]

Here we go! The official (old) picture!

 

[Gavin Hannah]

I think the concession that there is flowing water (seasonal perhaps) is already quite strong. I don't see this just being a "confirmation". Where there's water, there's life. I would say 70% chance there is some microbiol presence in the briny stuff. The little buggers can survive just about anywhere.  

[Methuselah]

If they really have discovered alien life, it would be marvellous!

 

Think of all the bickering among philosophers? Moderates would be arguing over how many angels you can fit on the head of a pin - extremists, whether they be Islamist, Christian or Atheist, would be bickering over how many pins you could stick into the head of an angel?

[Gavin Hannah]

Likely if that is the case, every nasa scientist will be shouted down as blasphemous by every extremist no matter what religion they belong to. The Earth is flat and we are the center of the universe   

[lorenzo]

Underneath that there is the question of religion.

If life is found where does that leave the majority of millennial religious tenets.

Edit - Similar to hammer above

[Methuselah]

I've waited years for life to be discovered on another planet; if it hasn't , I'll no be bothered. But, whatever - I'll no be justifying my belief with IEDs!

[Gavin Hannah]

Not to mention the movie The Martian is out next Wed.  I've read the book and it's a bloody good read. I've head the movie is the best Ridley Scott Movie in years!

[lorenzo]

Looking forward to Prometheus sequel where it's all about the engineers...

[Nick L]

Underneath that there is the question of religion.

If life is found where does that leave the majority of millennial religious tenets.

Edit - Similar to hammer above

 

It will probably be brushed off as being put there by the devil or something similar like usual. 

 

Looking forward to the announcement!

[Lauren]

I reckon they'll announce that's where all the lost pens and socks go. That's definitely it!

[lfcdude]

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/sep/28/nasa-scientists-find-evidence-flowing-water-mars

 

Liquid water runs down canyons and crater walls over the summer months onMars, according to researchers who say the discovery raises the odds of the planet being home to some form of life.

 

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1560377/flowing-water-present-on-mars-say-scientists

 

Flowing liquid water, essential to life, is almost certainly present on Mars, scientists believe.

[lorenzo]

Couple of images from the slides presented by the NASA team today.

 

Spikes on the graph indicate perchlorate salts absorption of liquid water, further images show run off and also locations.

 

 

 

 

'Everywhere we go where this is liquid water on earth, we find life.

 

We have not answered the question as to whether life goes on beyond earth, we now have precise locations to investigate and look for life and make a positive identification.'.

 

 

[Snowyowl9]

Likely if that is the case, every nasa scientist will be shouted down as blasphemous by every extremist no matter what religion they belong to. The Earth is flat and we are the center of the universe   

Earth is not the center of the universe, it’s not flat, and it’s looking very likely that the next major, paradigm-shifting revelation will be the fact that we are not alone in the universe.

Last years story I couldn`t resist quoting that bit.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/09/25/nasa-bring-scientists-theologians-together-to-prepare-world-for-extraterrestrial-contact/

[lorenzo]

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/CP_9U5RVEAAN_OS.mp4

[cyclonic happiness]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34379284

Earth is not the center of the universe, it’s not flat, and it’s looking very likely that the next major, paradigm-shifting revelation will be the fact that we are not alone in the universe.

Last years story I couldn`t resist quoting that bit.

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/09/25/nasa-bring-scientists-theologians-together-to-prepare-world-for-extraterrestrial-contact/

Also means there will be a huge space race to get people living up there. This is such an important discovery! up there with the wheel :-)

[Mokidugway]

Theirs perchlorate in urine , is Mars taking a Swearing AGAIN :0..

[Larry Bicett]

Was sat watching the news when it was interrupted to bring live coverage of NASA press conference. Bit disappointed really, was expecting video of little green men with pointy fingers and conical heads.

[cyclonic happiness]

Was sat watching the news when it was interrupted to bring live coverage of NASA press conference. Bit disappointed really, was expecting video of little green men with pointy fingers and conical heads.

No, they left and came to earth millions of years ago :-p

[stewfox]

Was sat watching the news when it was interrupted to bring live coverage of NASA press conference. Bit disappointed really, was expecting video of little green men with pointy fingers and conical heads.

 

They were saying there was 'good stuff' in Mars in the 1960's. Nothing knew really

 

[Methuselah]

They were saying there was 'good stuff' in Mars in the 1960's. Nothing knew really

 

Jolly good show, what!