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Moon and Mars

 
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Manage episode 177415193 series 1424004
Content provided by McDonald Observatory. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by McDonald Observatory or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Mars is cold and dry, and its air is a bare wisp compared to Earth’s air. That’s not an especially comfortable environment for life. But it’s not an impossible one, either. Life on Earth can survive in conditions that are pretty inhospitable. So it’s possible that microscopic organisms could live below the Martian surface, perhaps in underground pools of water.

A recent study found that some of the simplest organisms on Earth could survive Mars-like conditions. That doesn’t mean we’ll actually find life on Mars — only that we can’t rule it out.

Scientists at the University of Arkansas tested several species of methanogens — microbes that produce methane. Observations have revealed traces of methane in the Martian atmosphere. They might come from geologic processes, but they could also be produced by life.

The scientists exposed the methanogens to conditions similar to those found below the Martian surface — similar chemistry and pressure, for example. And they found that the organisms survived the exposure just fine. So now they’re planning a new round of experiments that’ll factor in the Martian cold — new tests to see if microscopic life could survive on Mars.

And Mars huddles quite close to the crescent Moon this evening. It looks like a moderately bright orange star, and stands to the lower right of the Moon as they drop down the western sky.

We’ll talk about the Moon and another orange companion tomorrow.

Script by Damond Benningfield

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28 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 

Archived series ("HTTP Redirect" status)

Replaced by: StarDate Premium Audio

When? This feed was archived on April 19, 2017 18:43 (7y ago). Last successful fetch was on April 19, 2017 18:05 (7y ago)

Why? HTTP Redirect status. The feed permanently redirected to another series.

What now? If you were subscribed to this series when it was replaced, you will now be subscribed to the replacement series. This series will no longer be checked for updates. If you believe this to be in error, please check if the publisher's feed link below is valid and contact support to request the feed be restored or if you have any other concerns about this.

Manage episode 177415193 series 1424004
Content provided by McDonald Observatory. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by McDonald Observatory or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.

Mars is cold and dry, and its air is a bare wisp compared to Earth’s air. That’s not an especially comfortable environment for life. But it’s not an impossible one, either. Life on Earth can survive in conditions that are pretty inhospitable. So it’s possible that microscopic organisms could live below the Martian surface, perhaps in underground pools of water.

A recent study found that some of the simplest organisms on Earth could survive Mars-like conditions. That doesn’t mean we’ll actually find life on Mars — only that we can’t rule it out.

Scientists at the University of Arkansas tested several species of methanogens — microbes that produce methane. Observations have revealed traces of methane in the Martian atmosphere. They might come from geologic processes, but they could also be produced by life.

The scientists exposed the methanogens to conditions similar to those found below the Martian surface — similar chemistry and pressure, for example. And they found that the organisms survived the exposure just fine. So now they’re planning a new round of experiments that’ll factor in the Martian cold — new tests to see if microscopic life could survive on Mars.

And Mars huddles quite close to the crescent Moon this evening. It looks like a moderately bright orange star, and stands to the lower right of the Moon as they drop down the western sky.

We’ll talk about the Moon and another orange companion tomorrow.

Script by Damond Benningfield

  continue reading

28 episodes

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