Could Mars have life hidden
right under our noses?
Since the first day we were able to
get to Mars, we have been focused in a non-ending search for life.
Because of this, NASA came up with
an ingenious rover called Curiosity. This rover will roam indefinitely Mars’
surface while taking pictures and collecting scientific data.
In other words, the Curiosity rover
is looking for any sign of life on Mars.
The problem with this is that the
rover is only looking for this signs with knowledge acquired on Earth.
Therefore, Mars might have a whole different structure and as a result a whole
lot different form of life.
Currently, these innovational interstellar
missions are focusing on finding past or present bio-signatures. Meaning, we
will be on the lookout for any energy source or where there could have been
water.
As mentioned before, these
bio-signatures are what we, as humans, know about what life needs in order to
exist. In Earth, life cannot happen without water or a source of energy. Mars
might work on a completely different level. So, who is to say that the rover
hasn’t come across life a million times without noticing?
We might just be looking for the wrong element
in the incorrect way.
Isabel Arzola
Andy Chavez
Lina Alfonso
CHM1045 Spring 2015
Biology Team I
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