New Data Suggest Mars Soil Not As Life-Friendly As Thought

Space.com on Yahoo ^ | 8/4/08 | Andrea Thompson

[NormsRevenge]

New results from NASA's Phoenix Mars lander suggest that the surface layers of the Martian arctic region may not be as friendly to life as initial results suggested, NASA said today.

Two samples analyzed within the last month by Phoenix's Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) suggest that the Martian dirt may contain perchlorate, a highly oxidizing substance, which would create a harsh environment for any potential life.

The findings stand against the results from MECA's first analysis, which indicated the dirt was Earth-like in certain respects, including its pH and the presence of certain minerals.

"Initial MECA analyses suggested Earth-like soil. Further analysis has revealed un-Earthlike aspects of the soil chemistry," said Phoenix principal investigator Peter Smith.

The news came today on the heels of a report on Friday that MECA had found intriguing results that had been shared with the White House. In correspondence with SPACE.com, Smith denied that any briefing with the White House had been held.

And the findings are inconclusive as yet, Smith indicated. "We are committed to following a rigorous scientific process," he said. "While we have not completed our process on these soil samples, we have very interesting intermediate results."

NASA will hold a press briefing tomorrow to further discuss the new MECA findings.

[Brett66]

which would create a harsh environment for any potential life

That's a really broad term, which type of life are they referring to? Obviously earth-like life would find it harsh.

[FreedomOfExpression]

Perchlorate (sodium or potassium salt) is a strong oxidizer

[mamelukesabre]

Yep. I think thos in the biz just call it “perk”.

[Wilhelm Tell]

That is too bad. I was hoping, in my wildest dreams, that after many thousands of years Mars could be Terraformed.

[JasonC]

And the fact that it is as cold as antarctica and devoid of water or oxygen, well, those are just a bonus.

[JasonC]

Easy as pie, given enough time and capital. Nature doesn't dispose, engineering does.

[Domangart]

Yes. Aerojet General washed the chemical from it's test stands. The chemical got into the water supply. All the water pumps are now closed. It traveled under the American river and is on its way to Sacramento.

[seowulf]

Metal salts?

A metal salt is just generic chemist speak for the product of reacting a metal with an acid.

Table salt is a metal salt. Sodium chloride is the product of reacting sodium (a metal) with hydrochloric acid.

Fireworks get their color from salts of metals like strontium, magnesium, barium, etc.

[MediaMole]

Mars Phoenix found water ice, so Mars is hardly devoid of water.

[seowulf]

Carbon tet is a little harder on the liver than the others. Those old dry cleaners were just a little tougher than the younguns, I guess.

I also wonder where all of that extra oxygen came from to make the perchlorate and whether they might find some other strong oxidizers as well.

[JasonC]

70% of the earth's surface is covered with oceans, on average about 3 kilometers deep. Mars is essentially devoid of water.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

Ping!

[SunkenCiv]

Martian soil may contain detrimental substance
by Alicia Chang
August 05, 2008

NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has detected the presence of a chemically reactive salt in the Martian soil, a finding that if confirmed could make it less friendly to potential life than once believed... preliminary results from a second lab test found perchlorate, a highly oxidizing salt, that would create a harsh environment... On Earth, perchlorate is a natural and manmade contaminant sometimes found in soil and groundwater. It is the main ingredient in solid rocket fuel and can be found in fireworks, pyrotechnics and other explosives... The first test determined the soil was slightly alkaline and contained nutrients such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride necessary for living things. The second test found the highly reactive perchlorate.