Scientists have discovered bacteria living in sub-surface brine in the Dry Valleys in Antarctica, in conditions similar to those that might still exist on Mars.
At the end of Taylor Glacier, which spills into one of the Dry Valleys (Taylor Valley, actually), a mysterious red trickle of salty, iron-rich water periodically stains the ice as it spills out like blood from a wound. It’s a good thing that it isn’t a paranormal message from ghosts warning researchers to leave the valley, because it has had the opposite effect—it draws them in. In 2012, for example, biologists looking for signs of life eking out an existence in the Dry Valleys discovered that Blood Falls contained an impressive community of microbial life.
It is thought that the weight of the glacial ice is squeezing these periodic flows out of the sediment beneath, but the bigger question is what that water is doing there in the first place. It’s cold enough in this area that Taylor Glacier should be frozen to its bed—which ought to be made of frozen sediment. But that assumes fresh water. The Blood Falls water is salty enough to stay liquid down to -6 degrees Celsius at surface pressure (and could go lower at higher pressure).
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And if there are bacteria living in the water of Blood Falls, it stands to reason those bacteria live in the groundwater, as well—an unexpected ecosystem in a terribly inhospitable environment surviving because the water is too salty to yield to the frigid temperatures. Those bacteria are probably getting their energy from breaking down minerals in the sediment.
Given recents reports that brine could form on Mars, there's a chance that life once did, or still could, inhabit it. It would rather put the "extreme" in "extremophile," though.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by Gravis on Saturday May 02 2015, @11:32PM
2 billion years ago, Mars was warmer and wetter because it had a dense atmosphere and possibly a molten core. however, sunlight has slowly stripped it away which let in more cosmic rays, lost a lot of heat and solidified the core. it's still possible something is living on mars but i think it would be deep underground.
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday May 03 2015, @01:19AM
the earth's magnetic field protects us from the solar wind; with no magnet field on mars, its upper atmosphere is blasted away by solar wind particles.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @01:27AM
So Mike, how are things in King County?
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday May 03 2015, @02:17AM
but there's lots more jobs for coders in King County.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @01:24AM
How the fuck do you, or even any scientist, have any idea about the state of Mars' core?
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @02:37AM
How the fuck do you, or even any scientist, have any idea about the state of Mars' core?
They check it with great big giant dipsticks. Not as big as you, but big nonetheless.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @03:22AM
How the fuck do you, or even any scientist, have any idea about the state of Mars' core?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @04:08PM
Life is STILL perfectly possible on the surface of Mars. Citation: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt [www.dlr.de]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by SubiculumHammer on Saturday May 02 2015, @11:41PM
I life evolved there prior to present conditions then it is likely that there are extremephobes. If those are the conditions for the initial emergence of life I'd doubt it would happen. There is a key difference between life beginning in an extreme environment to existant life adapting to extreme conditions.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @12:43AM
Extremephobes? A group who are opposed to extremes or extremists? Did you mean extremophiles?
That's the least wrong part of your posting.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @02:55AM
He's talking about social justice warriors.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @05:19AM
Still, anom didn't state what was wring with the reasoning , so fuck off.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @11:06PM
Yes, extremephobes like the whale people in the movie Wall-e.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Dunbal on Sunday May 03 2015, @01:03AM
I mean, bacteria are found on one planet, so bacteria could be found on another planet too! They have similar conditions, they are round, they have a day/night cycle, they have gravity and an atmosphere...
The main difference between Earth and Mars is - there actually IS life on Earth. Life that could over time adapt to harsh conditions like Antarctica. It's kind of hard to adapt to a climate when you don't exist as a life form...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @01:09AM
Won't you feel like a dumbass when they finally do find syphilis living on Mars.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @02:35AM
Won't you feel like a dumbass when they finally do find syphilis living on Mars.
Why limit it to Mars? Won't you fell like a dumbass when they find syphilis living on Uranus?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @11:08PM
Damn! He needs some burn cream for his Mars! Not Uranus.
(Score: 3, Touché) by Dunbal on Sunday May 03 2015, @02:40AM
I promise to eat a spoonful if they do discover syphilis on Mars.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 03 2015, @02:19PM
what?
If you are what you eat, and you found syphillus living in Uranus, wouldn't that make you feel like an ass if you ate it?