[meteorite-list] Some Mars Researchers See Life in Planet's Dunes
From: John Reed <john_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:04:52 2004 Message-ID: <3CF065DC.A7ED19BB_at_findalltrades.com> This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------9C788B64D1100F6772E33009 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mars_blotches_020130.html --------------9C788B64D1100F6772E33009 Content-Type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1; name="mars_blotches_020130.html" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Disposition: inline; filename="mars_blotches_020130.html" Content-Base: "http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/ solarsystem/mars_blotches_020130.ht ml" Content-Location: "http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/ solarsystem/mars_blotches_020130.ht ml" <html><head> <title>Some Mars Researchers See Life in Planet's Dunes</tit= le> <link rel=3D"stylesheet" href=3D"http://www.space.com/css/space.com.c= ss" type=3D"text/css"> <META name=3D"htdig-keywords" content=3D"mars, dar= k patches, dunes, hungary, Szathmary, mgs, mars global surveyor, surface = organisms, inca city,"> <META name=3D"description" content=3D"A Hungarian= research team claims that Martian organisms dot certain areas of the Red= Planet. Calling the intriguing blemishes "dark dune spots", the scientis= ts argue that these changing features are "probable Martian surface organ= isms.""> <META NAME=3D"docdate" CONTENT=3D"30 Jan 02"> <wg DATE=3D"2002= :Jan:30:12:20:00"></wg> = <script language=3D"javascript" src=3D"http://www.space.com/js/util.js"><= /script> <script language=3D"javascript" src=3D"http://www.space.com/js/popup.js">= </script> <script language=3D"javascript" SRC=3D"http://www.space.com/js/promo_popu= p.js"></script> <script language=3D"javascript" SRC=3D"http://www.space.com/js/site_pops.= js"></script> </head> <body bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" marginwidth=3D"0" marginheight=3D"0" l= eftmargin=3D"0" topmargin=3D"0" onload=3D"PageLoad('science astronomy: so= lar system');"></body> <a name=3D"top"></a><table cellpadding=3D"0" cells= pacing=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tr><td valign=3D"top" colspan=3D"3"><table cel= lpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tr> <td width=3D"300" bgco= lor=3D"#003399" align=3D"left" rowspan=3D"2"><a href=3D"http://www.space.= com" onclick=3D"flag=3D0"><img src=3D"http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/82= 7/1d/www.space.com/template_images/banners/topbanner300_rev_001019.jpg" w= idth=3D"300" height=3D"66" alt=3D"" border=3D"0"></a></td> = <td valign=3D"center" bgcolor=3D"#003399" align=3D"center" width=3D"= 506"> <center> = = <SCRIPT language=3D"JavaScript1.1" SRC=3D"http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/s= pace.dart/scienceastronomy;site=3Dspace.dart;section=3Dscienceastronomy;a= br=3D!webtv;pos=3Dtop;sz=3D468x60;ord=3D21591?"> </SCRIPT> = <SCRIPT> = if ((!document.images && navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Mozilla/2.') >=3D 0= ) || (navigator.userAgent.indexOf("WebTV")>=3D 0)) { document.write('<A HREF=3D"http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/space.dart/scie= nceastronomy;site=3Dspace.dart;section=3Dscienceastronomy;pos=3Dtop;sz=3D= 468x60;ord=3D21591?">'); document.write('<IMG SRC=3D"http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/space.dart/scien= ceastronomy;site=3Dspace.dart;section=3Dscienceastronomy;pos=3Dtop;sz=3D4= 68x60;ord=3D21591?" border=3D"0" height=3D"60" width=3D"468"></A>');}</SC= RIPT> <NOSCRIPT><A HREF=3D"http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/space.dart/scienceast= ronomy;site=3Dspace.dart;section=3Dscienceastronomy;pos=3Dtop;sz=3D468x60= ;ord=3D21591?"><IMG SRC=3D"http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/space.dart/scienc= eastronomy;site=3Dspace.dart;section=3Dscienceastronomy;pos=3Dtop;sz=3D46= 8x60;ord=3D21591?" border=3D"0" height=3D"60" width=3D"468"></A></NOSCRIP= T> </center></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td width=3D"140" valign=3D= "top"><table valign=3D"bottom" border=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding= =3D"0"><tr><td valign=3D"top"><table cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" = border=3D"0"> <tr> <td colspan=3D"3"><img src=3D"http://a52.g.akamaitech.= net/f/52/827/1h/www.space.com/template_images/elements/165_mainnav_topcur= ve.gif" width=3D"140" height=3D"15" alt=3D"" border=3D"0"></td> </tr> <tr= > <td width=3D"5" bgcolor=3D"#003399" valign=3D"top" rowspan=3D"2"><img s= rc=3D"http://a1484.g.akamaitech.net/f/1484/827/1h/www.space.com/template_= images/elements/transpacer.gif" width=3D"5" height=3D"1" alt=3D"" border=3D= "0"><br></td> <td width=3D"1" bgcolor=3D"#3399FE" valign=3D"top" rowspan=3D= "2"><img src=3D"http://a1484.g.akamaitech.net/f/1484/827/1h/www.space.com= /template_images/elements/transpacer.gif" width=3D"1" height=3D"1" alt=3D= "" border=3D"0"><br></td> <td width=3D"134" bgcolor=3D"#003399" valign=3D= "top" align=3D"center"> <font face=3D"arial, helvetica" size=3D"2" color=3D= "#FFCC00"> = <b>Sun. 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width=3D"500" height= =3D"40"></a> </td></tr><tr><td><table cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"1" bgcolor=3D"#= FFFFFF"><tr><td width=3D"1" align=3D"center" valign=3D"center"> =A0<img s= rc=3D"http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/827/1d/www.space.com/images/h_mars= spots_strip_01.jpg" border=3D"0" height=3D"163" width=3D"110"></td><td co= lspan=3D"1" valign=3D"center"> <br> <font face=3D"Verdana, Helvetica, san= s-serif" color=3D"#330066" size=3D"3"><b>Some Mars Researchers See Life i= n Planet's Dunes</b><br><br><font size=3D"2" color=3D"#330066"> By <a hre= f=3Dmailto:ldavid_at_hq.space.com>Leonard David</a><br>Senior Space Writer<b= r></font><font size=3D"1" face=3D"arial,helvetica" color=3D"#330066">post= ed: 12:20 pm ET<br>30 January 2002</font></font></td><td valign=3D"top"= rowspan=3D"5">=A0</td><td valign=3D"top" rowspan=3D"5" width=3D"125" ali= gn=3D"right"><table align=3D"right" width=3D"125" cellspacing=3D"0" cellp= adding=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tr><td align=3D"left"> <img src=3D"http://a148= 4.g.akamaitech.net/f/1484/827/1h/www.space.com/template_images/elements/e= _morestories_qtr.gif" border=3D"0" width=3D"113" height=3D"11"><br> <A HR= EF=3D"/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/ancient_mars_020104.html"><font face=3D= "Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D"1">Ancient Mars: Renderings Show R= aging Floods, Vast Oceans</font></A><br><br></td></tr><tr><td align=3D"le= ft"><A HREF=3D"/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mars_snow_011206-1.html"><fo= nt face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D"1">Mars Ski Report: Snow= is Hard, Dense and Disappearing</font></A><br><br></td></tr><tr><td alig= n=3D"left"><A HREF=3D"/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mgs_record_011121.htm= l"><font face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D"1">Mars Global Sur= veyor Snaps Record 100,000th Picture of Red Planet</font></A><br><br></td= ></tr><tr><td align=3D"left"><A HREF=3D"/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mar= s_polardust_010921.html"><font face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size= =3D"1">New Mars Images Show Polar Cap and Dust Storm</font></A><br><br></= td></tr><tr><td align=3D"left"><A HREF=3D"/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/d= ust_edgett_010702-1.html"><font face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" siz= e=3D"1">Dust Devils Reshape Mars</font></A><br><br></td></tr><tr><td alig= n=3D"left"> <img src=3D"http://a1484.g.akamaitech.net/f/1484/827/1h/www.s= pace.com/template_images/elements/e_images_qtr.gif" border=3D"0" width=3D= "113" height=3D"13"><br> <a href=3D"/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_dis= play.php?pic=3Dh_marsspots_close_02.jpg&cap=3DBush-like%20features%20are%= 20caused%20by%20defrosting%20processes%20on%20Mars,%20as%20seen%20in%20th= is%20July%201999%20shot%20taken%20by%20Mars%20Global%20Surveyor.%20Mars%2= 0experts,%20Mike%20Malin%20and%20Ken%20Edgett%20at%20Malin%20Space%20Scie= nce%20Systems,%20say%20this%20defrosting,%20over%20time,%20causes%20leopa= rd-like%20spots%20that%20can%20be%20wrongly%20interpreted%20as%20somethin= g%20growing."><img src=3D"http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/827/1d/www.spa= ce.com/images/h_marsspots_close_00.jpg" border=3D"0" height=3D"68" width=3D= "100"></a> <br><font face=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D"1">Bus= h-like features are caused by defrosting processes on Mars, as seen in th= is July 1999 shot taken by Mars Global Surveyor. Mars experts, Mike Malin= and Ken Edgett at Malin Space Science Systems, say this defrosting, over= time, causes leopard-like spots that can be wrongly interpreted as somet= hing growing.<br><br></font></td></tr><tr><td align=3D"left"> <a href=3D"= /php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=3Dh_marsspots_strip_02.j= pg&cap=3DJune%202001%20image%20taken%20by%20Mars%20Global%20Surveyor%20de= tails%20defrosting%20sand%20dunes%20in%20late%20southern%20winter%20on%20= the%20planet.%20Dark-spotted%20dunes%20in%20the%20southern%20hemisphere%2= 0are%20the%20result%20of%20springtime%20defrosting%20process%20on%20Mars,= %20not%20signs%20of%20biology,%20say%20Mars%20researchers%20Mike%20Malin%= 20and%20Ken%20Edgett%20of%20Malin%20Space%20Science%20Systems."><img src=3D= "http://a52.g.akamaitech.net/f/52/827/1d/www.space.com/images/h_marsspots= _strip_00.jpg" border=3D"0" height=3D"100" width=3D"68"></a> <br><font fa= ce=3D"Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=3D"1">June 2001 image taken by M= ars Global Surveyor details defrosting sand dunes in late southern winter= on the planet. Dark-spotted dunes in the southern hemisphere are the res= ult of springtime defrosting process on Mars, not signs of biology, say M= ars researchers Mike Malin and Ken Edgett of Malin Space Science Systems.= <br><br></font></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td colspan=3D"2" valign=3D= "top"><br> <font face=3D"Arial, Helvetica" color=3D"#000033" size=3D"2">= <a name=3D"beginstory"></a> <HTML> <HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; charset=3Dwindows= -1252"> <META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"Microsoft Word 97"> <TITLE>mars_blotches_020130</TITLE> <META NAME=3D"Template" CONTENT=3D"D:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Temp= lates\html.dot"> </HEAD> <BODY LINK=3D"#0000ff" VLINK=3D"#800080"> <FONT FACE=3D"Arial" SIZE=3D2><P> </P> <P>A Hungarian research team claims that Martian organisms dot certain ar= eas of the Red Planet. Calling the intriguing blemishes "dark dune spots"= , the scientists argue that these changing features are "probable Martian= surface organisms." Their evidence is based on studies of imagery snappe= d by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), a spacecraft now orbiting that pl= anet. </P> <P>However, this is at odds with the published conclusions of the MGS tea= m, and at least one leading Mars researcher and astrobiology expert deems= the life-form assertion "premature". This is also not the first time tha= t images of Martian surface features from MGS have </FONT><A HREF=3D"http= ://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/clarke_mars_banyon_010709-1= =2Ehtml"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial" SIZE=3D2>sparked the life debate</FONT></A>= <FONT FACE=3D"Arial" SIZE=3D2>.</P> <P>One region of Mars has been picked by the Hungarian team as a "test fi= eld" for the dark dune spots, with sets of Mars Global Surveyor pictures = of the selected landscape analyzed. That study area is a rectilinear ridg= ed landform known as "Inca City", an informal name ascribed to the terrai= n from Mariner 9 images taken in the early 1970s.</P> <P>Using the MGS pictures, the shape, pattern changes, fading and reappea= rance of the spots were catalogued. The Hungarian Mars analysts contend t= hat the changes support a biological link to the alternations over a geol= ogical interpretation.</P> <B><P>Constellation of patches</P> </B><P>Team member, Eors Szathmary, a permanent fellow at the Institute f= or Advanced Study in Budapest, Hungary told <I>SPACE.com</I> that the Mar= s biology viewpoints are to be presented in several papers at the upcomin= g 33<SUP>rd</SUP> Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. That meeting is= to be held by the Lunar and Planetary Institute this coming March in Hou= ston, Texas.</P> <P>Their assessments utilize MGS photos clicked from 1999 to 2001, from w= inter to summer of the southern hemisphere. Also used to help probe the d= ark dune area was information gleaned by a laser-scanning device toted by= the MGS. That instrument yielded height information about the terrain, h= elping to discern various Sun illuminations that strike the area over per= iods of time.</P> <P>Szathmary and his colleagues observed seasonal changes -- from early s= pring till early summer -- of the dark dune spots on frosted and defroste= d </FONT><A HREF=3D"http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/mar= s_dunes_000202.html"><FONT FACE=3D"Arial" SIZE=3D2>Martian dunes</FONT></= A><FONT FACE=3D"Arial" SIZE=3D2>. </P> <P>Each spring, they report, "gray fuzzy spots" appear in the bottom of t= he ice cover. By the middle of the first half of spring, these spots beco= me darker, are bounded, and grow in size. By early summer defrosting, the= naked dark soil of the dune is visible, and surrounded by a lighter ring= =2E </P> <P>Year by year, the dark dune spots "renew" on the same place with almos= t the same configuration, or "constellation" of patches. This repeat acti= on, the team asserts, strengthens their suggestion of fixed, biological c= auses of spot formation. </P> <P>Szathmary and others on the study group believe biology is at work on = Mars.</P> <P>"We interpret the sequence of dark dune spot formation and changes as = a result of=85probable Martian surface organisms," they report. The Marti= an organisms "survive below the surface ice, sunlight heats them up and t= hey generate their living conditions."</P> <B><P>Premature interpretation?</P> </B><P>The Hungarian researchers concede, however, that other Mars resear= chers don't share a biological interpretation of the spots. </P> <P>That's the case for Bruce Jakosky, a Mars researcher at the University= of Colorado in Boulder. He also heads the university's Center for Astrob= iology. </P> <P>"Given our understanding of Mars volatile- and dust-related processes,= it seems premature to attribute the characteristics that they identify t= o biological activity when other, simpler processes have not been ruled o= ut," Jakosky told <I>SPACE.com</I>. </P> <P>"In evaluating competing hypotheses, it is important to ask which is t= he most plausible by virtue of relying on well-understood processes that = are likely to be occurring on Mars. It would be inadequate, for example, = to treat all hypotheses that have not yet been absolutely ruled out as be= ing of equal likelihood," Jakosky said.</P> <P>Mars experts Mike Malin and Ken Edgett of Malin Space Science Systems = in San Diego, California have also eyed the features. They report that st= raightforward defrosting of the Martian ice cover is responsible for the = origin and development of the spots.</P> <P>But the Hungarian team counters this view. After studying several thou= sand such spots, defrosting processes cannot be the sole explanation for = the splotches in question, they say.</P> <B><P>More information needed</P> </B><P>Taking a measured, but too-early-to-tell attitude about the featur= es is James Garvin, Mars Exploration Program Scientist at NASA Headquarte= rs in Washington, D.C.</P> <P>Garvin said that there are many physically plausible ways to generate = the features that the Hungarian researchers are studying. Many of those w= ays are associated with the thermodynamics of materials at places on Mars= where detailed measurements of the associated micro-environments are lac= king. </P> <P>"The dark spots on the polar dunes that are discussed deserve more att= ention, due to their intriguing time-variable behavior," Garvin said. "Bu= t we have to recognize that we are examining features at scales no finer = than 10-20 feet, certainly not adequate to draw definitive conclusions ab= out whether biological processes were involved in their origin," he said.= </P> <P>"To fully appreciate what is going on, it's imperative that we continu= e measurements of such localities with orbital and surface-based systems,= " Garvin said. Those include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, as well as = Scout landers and perhaps the Mars Smart Lander, he said.</P> <P>The Hungarian team offers an interesting appraisal of what's causing t= he dark dune spots, said Ronald Greeley, a leading planetary geologist at= Arizona State University in Tempe.</P> <P>"Certainly the discovery of these features in the images rank with the= most intriguing features revealed by Mars Global Surveyor's high-resolut= ion camera. The Hungarians work through a set of logical descriptions and= analyses of how the features might form, then draw the conclusion that d= ark dune spots are indicative of biological activity. Unfortunately, this= last step is not convincing. It is not that this hypothesis is not possi= ble, it is just that the data do not support it," Greeley said.</P> <P>"No doubt, [this research] will generate much discussion, as is true f= or any suggestion of extraterrestrial life made by qualified planetary sc= ientists. What the ensuing discussion will point to is the need for defin= itive (or at least reasonable) criteria for the detection of life, either= with available instruments/data, or as a means to define new instruments= ," Greeley said.</P> <B><P>Martian communities</P> </B><P>Sizes of the various dark dune spots vary, and can be dozens of mi= les across. Their thickness varies from some 30 feet (10 meters) to over = 650 feet (200 meters) on average.</P> <P>"The shape, location, development and other features of the dark dune = spots prompt us to suggest that some fluid phase must be involved in thei= r explanation, which under the given circumstances cannot be anything els= e but liquid water. Dark dune spots are circular on flat surfaces. Defros= ting cannot be responsible for this since it is affected by various surfa= ce conditions," one of the team's research paper's points out. </P> <P>"We think that necessary melting of the ice is influenced by some biol= ogical factors," the researchers suggest. They propose one scenario, supp= orting their view that organisms are alive and well and at work on Mars.<= /P> <P>If the Martian surface organisms do exist, they could dwell below the = surface ice, the study team believes. When that ice is heated up by the o= rganisms absorbing sunlight, they then grow and reproduce through photosy= nthesis. In this process, they generate their own living conditions. </P>= <P>"Not only liquid water, but even water vapor can sustain this form of = life. Water vapor can migrate in the soil below the carbon dioxide frost = cover supporting the living conditions for endolithic type communities an= d this activity enhances the defrosting/melting process on the top of the= dark dune surface," the team concludes.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P></FONT></BODY> </HTML> <a name=3D"endstory"></a></font><table cellpadding=3D"2" cellspacing=3D"0= " border=3D"0"> <tr> <td valign=3D"top"> <table border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D= "0" cellspacing=3D"0" width=3D"350"> <tr> <td> = <center><hr size=3D1 color=3D#FFCC00><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"= 2" color=3D"#000066"><b>FUTURE SPACE<br>Next week: SPACE.com's Complete = Coverage of STS-111 <hr size=3D1 color=3D#FFCC00></b></font></center> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> = <tr><td valign=3D"top"><img src=3D"http://a1484.g.akamaitech.net/f/14= 84/827/1h/www.space.com/template_images/elements/explore_sectiondivider_2= 80.gif" border=3D"0" height=3D"18" width=3D"280"/></td></tr> <tr> <div align=3D"left"> <td valign=3D"top"> <font face=3D"arial,helvetica" size=3D"2"> <ul type=3D"disc"> <li><a href=3D"http://www.space.com/php/syndication/index.php">NEW! 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