NASA Mars droid in ET life discovery shock

NASA boffins believe the space agency's solar-powered Martian droid rovers have found something interesting. They believe their discovery points to an increased likelihood of life on the Red Planet. "We're really excited about this," said NASA Mars-droid honcho Steve Squyres, according to the BBC. The search for ET goes on …

[Anonymous Coward]

No Alien Sexpots

That would explain why Captain Kirk never went there. No shapely alien beauties to whom he could explain "this Earth thing called love".

Still, I reckon we should keep looking, just in case.

[James]

I knew it wasn't the Gobi desert...

it was really the Jerboas they discovered on Mars:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7130484.stm

[graeme leggett]

It could be hidden...

I just hope the robot doesn't uncover any previously hidden green glowing cities. It could start a war.

Dum De Dum De De De Dum.

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't worry about the hidden glowing green city

Don't worry about the hidden glowing green city. Conrad Black is in jail so he can't go to Mars and start the war.

SIG.

[jeffrey]

Hmm

Damn those evasive Mysterons

[Alistair MacRae]

Cleaned the mars rover?

I was just wondering if they scrubbed they mars probe with antibactieial stuff before landing it there. Otherwise they may have put bateria on mars themselves....

[4a$$Monkey]

I for one welcome the coming of our Martian Overlords...

...You would be wise to pledge your allegiance now squishy Earthlings!

[Red Bren]

The BBC is both marsist and hemispherist

Not only do they talk of <i>unearthing</i> stuff on mars, they also go on about the rovers having to hibernate for the martian winter!

Amateurs!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

@Alistair MacRae

Yes Mars probes are routinely sterilised before launch, usually by popping them into an autoclave for several days.

However, this is a fairly recent procedure dating from Viking onwards; AFAIK none of the Mars landers launched by the Soviet Union were sterilised as the planet was thought to be completely barren. Although none of the Soviet probes returned any useful data from the surface, Mars 2, 3, 6 and 7 all landed on the planet.

HTH.

[Anonymous Coward]

So they found some glass

When they find oil or a suspicion of WMDs or a civilian nuclear research program then the US will have a good reason to go there and perminantly occupy it.

[Paul F]

MARS NEEDS WOMEN!

'nuff said.

[Anonymous Coward]

@ Paul F

> MARS NEEDS WOMEN!

Too true, have you seen the state of the place, rocks and debris all over the place.

A good dust and a once round with the vac would not at all go a miss.

The place is also already pink so at least it would not need decorating although it would probably end up with a nice rug, a floral pattened throw over the sofa, some scatter cushions and scented candles.

I'll get my coat, hung up by the door - which is never where I bloody leave it

[Anonymous Coward]

Sterilisation

I'm fairly certain that even without an autoclave, months of traveling through extremely cold vacuum would be pretty lethal on most bacteria?

[Anonymous Coward]

Cleaning up

Quote: "A good dust and a once round with the vac would not at all go a miss."

Would that be done with ... wait for it ... the hard vacuum of space?

Look, I'm really sorry. My coat's already on, just looking for my helmet.

[Luther Blissett]

Sand - as evidence of water

I doubt the Aliens use this is an indicator of good surfing.

[brainwrong]

Silica

Are they sure it's not the dessicant silica beads from the rover's packaging? Look nearby and they may find a small paper bag with "do not eat" written on it. :-)

@Anonymous Coward: (is this really one person?)

Some bacteria may survive, this one is tough as old boots:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deinococcus_radiodurans

Dunno what it would feed on if it got there, though.

[David]

Men are from Mars

And I always thought that men are from Mars and woman are from..................er..................oh dear............I`ll get me spacesuit.

[Damian Gabriel Moran]

back to a Simpsons Quote

Homer - "It's like you are from Venus"

Marge - "and you are from Mars"

Homer - "oh yeah sure, give me the one with all the monsters!"

[The Sceptic]

To summarise

Hypothetically there MIGHT be life on Mars which a machine found which SHOULD have held life at some point so there hope of finding something which MAY have been life at some point. Speculation about hypothetical arguments based on hope - outstanding.

I reckon NASA are about to submit a new budget request.

[JP]

Life on Mars...

I'm sorry but unless I see the Golden Arches or a crushed Coke can...there simply is no life on Mars...