Maybe There’s No Life on Mars Right Now…

Everyone loves a good comedian, and Louis C.K. is one of the hottest ones going right now. Yesterday, he went on a Twitter rant about Mars, and there’s actually quite a bit of truth in what he was saying. Actually, that’s what makes comedy funny, right? Still, let’s take a closer look at what he had to say in reference to what we know about the red planet today.

“It really feels like Mars used to be a here that got globally warmed by some very us-y people-things.”

“What was left turned into here and our moon…and later we’ll use our moon to go back.”

While scientists don’t really know very much about Mars prior to 1970, they do know that there’s evidence that Mars once had water. In 1996, NASA geologist David McKay took a closer look at a Martian meteorite that landed on Earth. Along with his researchers, McKay discovered what looked to be fossilized microbes. Could it be a sign that Mars once had some form of life? That debate is ongoing, and right now scientists believe we don’t have enough evidence to support the theory. Still…

NASA’s Curiosity is still roaming the planet of Mars, looking for any tell-tale signs of ancient life on the surface.

What about the “us-y people things” Louis referred to? Could it be possible that life on earth actually originated from Mars? That’s a pretty far-reaching theory, but it’s not one that isn’t in the backs of the minds of certain scientists. In fact, a biochemist by the name of Steven Brenner has stated that an element named molybdenum wasn’t present in its life-constructing form when life first appeared on Earth, billions of years ago. However, it was present on Mars. He said, “It’s only when molybdenum becomes highly oxidized that it is able to influence how early life formed,” he said in a statement at the time. “This form of molybdenum couldn’t have been available on Earth at the time life first began, because 3 billion years ago, the surface of the Earth had very little oxygen, but Mars did.”

Louis C.K.’s rant was worth a chuckle for sure, and he touched on some things that have a real basis in modern-day science. But what’s the truth behind it all?

If you’re curious, you’ll want to join us this Saturday October 11, 2014. We’re going to dive deep into what we know about Mars at our Mission to Mars Gala in the evening. In the morning, we’ll host an event for kids that will include lots of fun events, and spark their curiosity about what our Mars rover is doing on the red planet right now!

Click here to make your reservations for our Gala, and make sure you bring the family out for Mission to Mars in the morning. This is going to be a great weekend at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center. Make sure you don’t miss out!

 

 

 

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Breaking News: Mars Rover has Begun Studying Mount Sharp

The Martian rover Curiosity was launched in November of 2011, and its mission was to study the planet of Mars. Since its arrival on the red planet, it’s helped scientists learn a great deal about the Martian atmosphere, and this information has been invaluable.

On September 24, 2014, Curiosity finally began drilling into the base of Mount Sharp, which is what researchers have been waiting for. It drilled a 2.6 inch hole into the crust and began gathering samples of the powdered rock, which were then analyzed. Eventually, Curiosity will move up the mountain, which is almost three and a half miles high. The rover will drill and analyze the rock along the way, providing us with even more clues about how the mountain was formed.

The data that has been collected from Mars has already painted an incredible picture illustrating what the planet was like years and years ago. Scientists believe that the planet was once warm and wet, and could have sustained life in the form of microorganisms. There is so much we know, and yet there is so much more we desire to know.

That’s where you come in.

Sweet-n-Saucy in Big Flats, NY is proud to be a part of the events hosted by the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, and we have an important one coming up that you won’t want to miss. On October 11, 2014, they will be hosting Mission to Mars, which features fun activities for the kids during the day and a lovely Gala event in the evening. The proceeds from ticket sales will go to help fund additional STEM youth education programs right here at the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center.

NASA’s work on Mars is so important, and we want you to be a part of it. We hope you’ll join us on October 11 for both of these amazing events! For more information, please contact us! To register, please click here.

We’ll see you on October 11!

 

**Photo courtesy of Fox News**