Life on Mars Flashcards
Why is life within the upper 1-2 meters of soil on Mars unlikely?
Because of lethal UV radiation.
When water was on Mars it was likely very what?
Salty (low water activity).
Does Mars have low or high pressure?
Very low.
Does Mars’ pressure stop life from growing?
No, the low-pressure barrier is not an absolute determinant of habitability.
What is the mean temperature of Mars?
Around -50 to -60 degrees C.
Does Mars’ temperature stop life from growing?
Maybe, it is well below the lowest temperature that life on Earth has been shown to grow in.
Does methane on Mars provide evidence for life on Mars?
Maybe, the uneven methane distribution may show that on ongoing source of methane is being added to the atmosphere. However, there are other ways this could occur.
What did the Viking mission do? (2)
- It explored Mars for signs of life. 2. It was the only experiment to date of trying to find the potential existence of life on another planet.
What was the conclusion on the issue of whether or not there was life on Mars, according other Viking mission?
No conclusive evidence for life.
Why is it unlikely that a subsurface chemolithoautotrophic microbial ecosystem analogous to that in Lidy Hot Springs could exist on Mars?
Mars is no longer tectonically active in a manner analogous to Earth.
