'Cave entrances' spotted on Mars

BBC News ^

[BlackJack]

Richard Hoagland is gonna run wild with this....I hope he
stays on his medication.

[P.O.E.]

Funny how I can imagine Time going forward forever into the future, but can't imagine it going forever into the past. Similarly, I can imagine the universe being infinitely big, but can't imagine the infinitely small (as in an asymptote).

[Nathan Zachary]

"Where, pray tell, do these scientists think that these elemental life forms came from, that they could blossom in these "caves"?

Where on Mars did they live before they dug these caves and installed sky lights?
Where are the ancient smelting plants used to make steel for shovels to dig these caves, and make glass for the sky lights?
What did they eat, and where did they grow it in -160f temps?
Why only 6 caves on such a large planet?

So many questions, so few answers....This calls for more grant money obviously...

[BlackJack]

The Gieco Caveman is from Arsia Mons!
Looks a bit like Osama....check the beard.
They may be sharing the cave.

[Republicanus_Tyrannus]

" Unfortunately the two theories are mutually exclusive. "

Actually, they aren't. And as for life "shattering" faith, intelligent or non-intelligent, that isn't quite truthful in as such major denominations have for some time been expecting this. The RCC itself has doctrine set for more than 200 years saying that life outside of Earth does not invalidate scripture. Many other churches have also no problem with extraterrestrial intelligences. After all, the doctrines of angels are recognitions of non-human, non-terrestrial intelligences anyway. Since there is no panic about them, I don't see the problem with anyone else more ordinary/mortal.

As for creation and evolution - for a great number of faithful there is no conflict. Both can be accomodated intellectually for many like myself.

[MHGinTN]

Here's a thought for you: space is a requirement for 'big and small' in most folks' thinking; try imagining big and small as temporal functions; try imagining big and small as life functions (will, emotion, mind) ... big and small are notions associated only to space. Now, how is it that a thousand Angels can fit upon the head of a pin? How do Angels appear and disappear ... our concept of 'eternal life' is tied to the idea of endless running time, but what if it is a state of temporal non-flux as in only present, without past or future variables? ... If the soul is anchored in a dimension I call life force, then time and space are relative to life force only where these other dimensions are intertwined.

[MHGinTN]

I enjoy listening to his flights of fancy.

[RightWhale]

Looks like the Euro Space Agency ESA and NASA are in a contest to see which can discover the most and the best. NASA better hire Disney to do PR because NASA otherwise is being out-gunned by Algore for headline space.

[NicknamedBob]

"... what seemed to be vertical "skylight" entrances to caves below the surface."

Where did the light come from? ..Hmm! Does this seem strange to anyone else?

I think this just means the opening to the cave is in its ceiling. On Earth, such a cave is a deathtrap to wandering animals.

[BlackJack]

Osama.....close the skylight quick!

[stevie_d_64]

Darnit...They found my secret hiding place!

[SunkenCiv]

If I were Gilbert Levin, I'd be deeply offended. As it is, as just an innocent bystander, I'm a little offended. :')

The Viking Labeled Release Experiment and Life on Mars
by Gilbert V. Levin

Many hypotheses have been advanced and tested in attempts to account for the well-characterized activity detected in the surface material of Mars by the LR experiment. As shown above, these hypotheses have themselves been found wanting. The demonstrated success of the LR and the exquisite sensitivity with which it has detected microorganisms during its extensive test program with its record of no false positives can no longer be denied. No non-biological approach published, or known to the author, has duplicated the LR Mars data. Some laboratory experiments have produced positive responses, but the detailed thermal sensitivity exhibited by the variety of controls conducted on Mars has remained elusive in all such tests compatible with martian conditions. On the other hand, a combination of known properties of microorganisms, perhaps even those possessed by single species, could reproduce all aspects of the LR data. The biological interpretation of the Mars LR results is left standing alone. Recent discoveries of life forms thriving in extraordinarily severe environments on Earth strongly indicate that any alien organisms arriving on Mars might well and widely adapt to their new home. Application of the scientific principle leads to a conclusion: the Viking LR experiment detected living microorganisms in the soil of Mars.

[Ieatfrijoles]

How is this news? They showed many caves , some with waterfalls, when they shot 'Robinson Carusoe on Mars."

[TASMANIANRED]

Moorlocks..dwell down below.

[SunkenCiv]

Life on other Planets
by Thomas Gold
May 1997

Highly oxidized iron is abundant on Mars, and very small-grained magnetite can then be expected to be one of the accumulated residues of microbial processes; so can iron sulfide and methane-derived carbonates. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are the large molecules that might remain in a rock that originally contained crude oil but then was exposed for millions of years to the high vacuum of space. All these substances have been found in the discovery meteorite, closely packaged to each other, and this by itself would make a strong case for the microbial interpretation. In addition, there are small objects seen under scanning electron microscopy that may well be fossils of microbes. While the last item by itself would not be conclusive evidence, the combination of this together with oil and the three residue products make a strong case for the microbial explanation. It is true that each step can occur without biological intervention, but the chance of finding by chance the evidence for all three solids in a small volume, together with hydrocarbons, seems to be very low. Many terrestrial oil and gas wells show just such an association (but an association with helium also, which the meteorite could not have transported through space).

---

The Deep, Hot Biosphere by Thomas Gold foreword by Freeman Dyson

---

[SunkenCiv]

Red planet's hue due to meteors, not water
New Scientist | September 4 2003 | Hazel Muir
Posted on 12/21/2006 3:27:00 AM EST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1756678/posts

Mars Takes a Fresh Pounding
space.com | 12/12/06 | Tarig Malik
Posted on 12/12/2006 10:31:08 PM EST by KevinDavis
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1752633/posts

Life may lie deep below Martian surface
New Scientist | 01/30/07 | aggie McKee
Posted on 01/30/2007 10:23:36 PM EST by KevinDavis
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1776524/posts

[KevinDavis]

MARSWARD HO!!!!

[BenLurkin]

A wonderful movie!

[BenLurkin]

A wonderful movie -- saw it at the theater as a young lad in early to mid 1960s.

[Ieatfrijoles]

It was good, although I was about 10 and 12 the times I saw it, I think I would still like it. I thought Holmes was doomed until the oxygen rocks saved him!