BBC Focus Magazine

[M Paul Lloyd]

This is most certainly one of those bits of research that suggests something could be possible but by no means proves that it is actually possible.
The fact that it comes via the Discovery channel news page is also a bit worrying as they stand guilty of running some pretty odd stories in recent times.

Life Possible On 'Large Regions' of Mars
With higher pressures and warmer temperatures beneath the Martian surface, Earth-like microorganisms could thrive.
THE GIST
Using decades of Mars data, Australian researchers have evaluated the entire planet for habitability.
Liquid water cannot exist on Mars' surface for long, meaning life (as we know it) would have a hard time surviving.
Sub-surface, however, there's better chances for liquid water -- and therefore life -- to exist.

Australian scientists who modeled conditions on Mars to examine how much of the Red Planet was habitable said that "large regions" could sustain life.
Charley Lineweaver's team, from the Australian National University, compared models of temperature and pressure conditions on Earth with those on Mars to estimate how much of the distant planet was livable for Earth-like organisms.
While just one percent of Earth's volume -- from core to upper atmosphere -- was occupied by life, Lineweaver said their world-first modeling showed three percent of Mars was habitable, though most of it was underground.

More here.
http://news.discovery.com/space/mars-li ... 11212.html

[Lateralman]

According to my ‘Mars Attacks,’ cards the Martians live in magnificent domed cities sprawled across the desert dunes. Could they have it wrong?

[Healerman]

The fact that it comes via the Discovery channel news page is also a bit worrying as they stand guilty of running some pretty odd stories in recent times.

[b] Charley Lineweaver's team, from the Australian National University,

Well, I put your comment, MPL, together with this guys name and my thought was,

"A lovely little thinker, but a bugger when he's pissed".

[M Paul Lloyd]

Sorry Mr.H but you have the better of me there?

[Shadowwolf]

Discovery is most suspect but the lads credentials suggest that it may be more than mere fantasy.

Besides, none of the silliness was invoked.

[M Paul Lloyd]

I'm just waiting for someone several sandwiches short of a picnic to suggest that 'Martians' are waiting for us in tunnels, waiting to eat our brains and steal our ships and invade our world.

[MikeG]

Life may exist, but probably only microbial life. I wonder however, how easy it would be to terraform mars. What type of plant life could survive the conditions on Mars? Lichens, moss, whatever? Maybe some type of bio-engineered strain. Then it could probably be possible to build interconnecting large domes, possibly using materials found on the planet. This would enable larger plant life to take hold and possibly evolve and acclimatize to the gravity and light. Over tens of thousands of years, a semblance of an atmosphere may develop, which may be sustainable without the domes (assuming that the lichens, whatever, survived and took hold).

Wishful thinking, but it would be great if it were possible.

[M Paul Lloyd]

The problem with Mars, and something that was unfortunately overlooked by the late Arthur C Clarke in his books on the subject, is that it lacks a decent magnetic field and thus its surface is constantly bathed in lethal levels of radiation and no amount of Terra-forming or atmospheric thickness would compensate for that. So, unless you plan to install some form of artificial magnetic field (which would be extremely difficult) or a really thick roof the only real hope is to go underground.

[MikeG]

Maybe some strategically placed "umbrellas" in orbit around the planet which would allow sunlight to penetrate, but filter out radiation.

[M Paul Lloyd]

If you can invent a workable radiation proof and presumably otherwise transparent umbrella material I'll buy shares in it MikeG.

[MikeG]

There are actually quite a few materials out there with these properties. One interesting link Is the following. I find it interesting because one of the inventors Is David Edwards of Marshall Space Flight Center. If this doesn't quite fit the bill, either because of weight, bulk, or whatever, it at least demonstrates that further research could bear fruit.

http://www.techbriefs.com/component/con ... ticle/1196

[M Paul Lloyd]

Transparent Metal-Salt-Filled Polymeric

Well its a new one on me I must confess.
Having thought about it though I'm favouring something more akin to very large greenhouses with roofs made from this material rather than trying to place and maintain it in orbit. It would also make it easier to maintain a workable atmosphere at ground level.
At least to start with.

[Shadowwolf]

Dig in I say, underground and installed into those canyons. Just use temporary habs 'n' domes for the construction crew.

We could probably get away with cheap domes

[MikeG]

I can't wait for Curiosity to reach Mars and announce the discovery of some type of life form. I wonder if the the Vatican (or other religious bodies) have a prepared script to reply to this eventuality? How exactly will the "creationists" respond to this? Although this is not exactly a scientific query, religion has been stepping on science's toes for millennia now, and a lot of scientific knowledge has been lost in the process.

[Shadowwolf]

You must not be familiar with theologists and other faith apologists, they will find an excuse if life was confirmed on Mars or elsewhere; it may not make much sense but it will be there. Given extremophiles here on Terra and the probability that life of some form exists elsewhere, I'd say the big ones already have it factored in and have small press release ready.

Creationists will respond to it much as you would expect any unthinking, anti-knowledge clown to respond to information they don't like, with denial, accusation and fantasy. Same as they always do, not like they ever got round to accepting most of modern science.

Whilst I would grant that religion has slowed science to a degree, no scientific knowledge has been lost over it.

[Lateralman]

I always thought that science was a religion. Belief with proof.

[M Paul Lloyd]

I'm sorry Lateral but that is exactly the opposite of what religion is about which accepts the most extraordinary stupid concepts based on nothing more tangible than blind faith whilst science will only entertain that which is plausible and can be shown by experiment to exist.

They are in very real terms exact opposites which is why we prefer not to discuss religion on this forum, that and the fact that my point of view may well upset anyone who is religious...................

[MikeG]

I would have to agree with you Shadowwolf. Religion has slowed us down rather than stopped progress, but it saddens me to think of how many ancient texts have been deliberately destroyed by the church. A number of mathematical (and other scientific) texts were saved only because they had once been translated into Arabic, and therefore able to be translated back for modern consumption. One recent text which has come to light recently (and barely just saved, was the Archimedes codex, which was rotting away in a monastery in Mount Athos. I wonder how many more texts are hidden away in the Vatican?

[Lateralman]

Agreed. Let's not go there.

[Shadowwolf]

I always thought that science was a religion.

Like Mr M says, science is about evidence and reason, a polar opposite to religion which rests on believing in things which have no evidence merely because you wish it to be so; though a great many believe because that's how they were brought up.

The 'science is just another religion' is generally a tired old canard trotted out by some believers - when arguing against science or for why their particular version is true - when their backs are against the wall. Their arguments in tatters they resort to suggesting that actually, science is no better than they are and it's all a matter of opinion really. However, if you have to resort to essentially suggesting that your opposition is as s**t as you are, you've ceded the floor and admitted that you don't have a leg to stand on regards your position.

I wonder how many more texts are hidden away in the Vatican?

Some texts of historical interest I'm sure, doubt there would be anything scientifically worthwhile in there. Destruction is unfortunately not limited to that outfit, the victorious or totalitarian states will remove that they object to.