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Group Reads Discussions 2008
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Stranger in a Strange Land - When Did Scientists Determine That There Is No Life on Mars?
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Sandi
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Oct 03, 2008 07:51PM
The key "science" in "Stranger in a Strange Land" is the potential differences between Martians and Earthlings. This book was published in 1960. When did scientists determine that Mars couldn't support life?
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That all depends upon how complex the life form is ... the debate is still going on as to whether or not primative life exists or existed on Mars; however, we pretty much knew complex lifeforms could not have developed or survived (without assistance) since the 1965 Mariner 4 probe got a good look at the environment (no liquid water) and the search changed into a hunt for bacteria.
I agree with Bunny. I don't think Heinlein expected us to find the idea of life on Mars creditable any more than he expected us to actually believe in a language that allowed you to move things with your mind. Even though we have never really confirmed that life doesn't (or didn't) exist on Mars, we've certainly suspected that Mars would be a very inhospitable habitat for life since long before the Mariner probes confirmed it. The 'Martian' element of the story as is with most sci-fi (and soft sci-fi in particular) a safe way to engage contriversial topics back on Earth.
I don't know if he believed in life on Mars or not. Heinlein loved the idea of space travel & there wasn't a lot of good data, so fooling himself to some extent or holding out hope are possibilities. The Wikipedia article on Mars says that folks were publishing books on the possibilities for life forms on Mars as late as the 1960's & the myths weren't cleared up until the Mariner missions reported back.He was also enough of a showman that what his consumers believed was of importance, I would think. Not that he wasn't capable of or didn't enjoy popping a illogical notion like this, but there was no reason to do so. It was a great place to have a story - well used, including by him in 'Red Planet' (1949), 'Between Planets' (1951) & afterward with 'Podkayne' (1962). Those of us familiar with these books recognized & filled in a lot about Mars & Martians from them - at least, I did. Heinlein did like to keep his universe all in one big package.
You are all wrong. There is advanced life on mars. They have been hiding from us and providing fake data for our probes.One day when we are ripe they will come here to eat us.
Gee what are they teaching inc schools these days.
Find this interesting:(CNN) -- Scientists have discovered methane in Mars' atmosphere, raising the possibility that life might exist on the planet.
Mars may be more active than previously believed, scientists say.
The methane could have come from past or present subsurface microorganisms, geological activity or comets striking the planet, scientists and NASA officials said. Scientists were not sure how long the methane has been on the planet.
Methane -- four atoms of hydrogen bound to a carbon atom -- is the main component of natural gas on Earth. It's of interest to astrobiologists because organisms release much of Earth's methane as they digest nutrients. Other purely geological processes, like oxidation of iron, also release methane.
"It's time, it's prudent that we begin to explore Mars looking for the possibility of a life form that's exhaling methane," said Lisa Pratt, professor of geological sciences at Indiana University, at a NASA news briefing Thursday.
The likelihood of life on Mars (at one time) is high with recent data.While the first probes showed no liquid water on the surface of Mars further study has shown features that are consistent with flowing water (http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98...). There has even been speculation that some of the dark stains on the surface (that coincide with areas from high to low elevation where water may have flowed) are perhaps biological in origin (http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy...). Recently, the Mars Probe has found 'proof' that ice exists on Mars that is not bound up in the polar ice caps. This is incredible because we can then compare the life found in Antarctica to what we might expect to find on Mars (http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy...).
Add to all this water data that a 'microbe' was found on a martian meteorite in Antarctica. The rock showed concretions that are consistent with the organization of life. There were carbonate concretions (which would need water to form), amino acids and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (whose simplest explanation is that they were formed by an organism; contamination from Antarctica is possible) (http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/meteorite...).
Hopefully, someday soon we will find some microbes or some microfossil evidence gathered from the planet itself.
DISCLAIMER: I am a biology graduate student at Auburn University. I had an undergraduate minor in geology and did a research paper on ALH 84001 (the Martian meteorite) as part of my studies. Beyond that I have no former training in that field. I am a marine biologist and microscopist. If anyone has questions about dissecting the scientific literature I would be happy to help but I am not an expert.
Chani, I think you're more of an expert than 99% of us.
That's why I want to offer my services. I hope they helped!
chani, i just wondered if that is your real name or in tribute to the dune series? thanks for your interesting posts!
In tribute to the dune series. She rocks. Plus my real name is Maria but I'm of Italian descent not Spanish or Hispanic so I find going by something else eliminates the spanish language messages that I can only very laboriously read with my high school spanish skills.
that's funny about the hispanic posts you have to deal with! it's the latin temperment, don't you know...:) chani is one of my favorite sci-fi characters as well.
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