Is there life on Mars ?
“Are we alone?” is a very big question that people usually wonder when they look at the sky since thousands years ago. With that question, we have created a lot of movies, novels, stories, about UFOs, aliens and life in those stars above. Nowadays, with the highly development of science and technology, human are on their way to find out the answer for this question. Scientists have found many planets which have the potential to support life. However, it is the Earth’s neighbor, Mars, which has the biggest chance that life may exist on. In my opinion, I think we still have to go a long road to answer the question: “Is there life on Mars?”
Mars is the fourth planet of the Solar System. It is the nearest planet to Earth. Therefore, there are many similarities between two planets. For example, according to BBC (n.d.), Mars has the surface with mountains, valleys, volcanoes and the atmosphere above it; Mars moves around the Sun so it also has day, night and seasonal cycle which is similar to Earth. They also stated that Mars has 2 moons which are Phobos and Demois (BBC n.d.). So Mars is considered as the most likely place where the evidence of life can be found.
Throughout history, there were many evidences which were given to prove that there is life on Mars. Those proof mainly focus on the fundamental requirements for life: Water and atmosphere. Water is one of the most important elements which form life. In short, no water no life. Fortunately, the researchers from Discovery Channel (n.d.) have pointed out that Mars has a watery past. According to Discovery Channel (n.d.), great rivers, lakes or even oceans have existed on Mars. Another important element is methane gas. Kenneth Chang (2013) stated that methane is the sign for the appearance of microbes, which means organism and life on Mars. From the telescopes on Earth and pictures from satellites on Mars, scientists came to a very important result that they have found plumes of methane on Mars’s atmosphere
Mars is the fourth planet of the Solar System. It is the nearest planet to Earth. Therefore, there are many similarities between two planets. For example, according to BBC (n.d.), Mars has the surface with mountains, valleys, volcanoes and the atmosphere above it; Mars moves around the Sun so it also has day, night and seasonal cycle which is similar to Earth. They also stated that Mars has 2 moons which are Phobos and Demois (BBC n.d.). So Mars is considered as the most likely place where the evidence of life can be found.
Throughout history, there were many evidences which were given to prove that there is life on Mars. Those proof mainly focus on the fundamental requirements for life: Water and atmosphere. Water is one of the most important elements which form life. In short, no water no life. Fortunately, the researchers from Discovery Channel (n.d.) have pointed out that Mars has a watery past. According to Discovery Channel (n.d.), great rivers, lakes or even oceans have existed on Mars. Another important element is methane gas. Kenneth Chang (2013) stated that methane is the sign for the appearance of microbes, which means organism and life on Mars. From the telescopes on Earth and pictures from satellites on Mars, scientists came to a very important result that they have found plumes of methane on Mars’s atmosphere
References: Bob the Alien 's Tour of the Solar System n.d., Life on Mars?, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.bobthealien.co.uk/marslife.htm BBC n.d., ABOUT MARS, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/sun_and_planets/mars Theguardian Thursday 29 August 2013, ‘Life on Earth ‘began on Mars’’, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/aug/29/life-earth-originated-mars Kenneth Chang, P 2013, ‘Life on Mars? Well, Maybe Not’, The New York Times, September 19, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/science/space/mars-rover-comes-up-empty-in-search-for-methane.html?_r=4&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1382205176-LLrM0y9wJp1ejAlM/iATrA& Euronews 24 September 2013, ‘Key find challenges life on Mars theory’, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.euronews.com/2013/09/24/key-find-challenges-life-on-mars-theory/ Discovery Channel n.d., Mars Facts: Life on the Red Planet, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.racetomars.ca/mars/article_life_mars_red_planet.jsp Discovery Channel n.d., Life on Mars: A travel brochure for the Red Planet, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.racetomars.ca/mars/article_life_mars.jsp Discovery Channel n.d., Is there water on Mars?, viewed 17 October 2013, http://www.racetomars.ca/mars/article_water.jsp