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Discovery of fungi or bacteria growing on Mars would be absolutely shattering science. The claim of fungus-like growth didn't seem to be supported by the photog

by bdamm 5y ago

Discovery of fungi or bacteria growing on Mars would be absolutely shattering science. The claim of fungus-like growth didn't seem to be supported by the photographic evidence, though. edit: After looking through all the photos again, I admit that I am feeling pretty compelled by the evidence. If these photos are unaltered, the processes producing the phenomena are absolutely worth studying.

adriand 5y ago
The photographs are incredibly interesting. What colours my excitement about them, however, is the knowledge of how ignorant I am of non-biological processes that may produce similar results. Two examples that come to mind are stalagmites/stalactites and large crystals. Crystals, especially, exhibit behaviour that - were I unfamiliar with the phenomena that produce them - appear biological, such as growing upwards. In other words, when I excitedly ask myself the question, "What, other than biology, could possibly create those 'puffballs'?" I have to be honest that there is probably a long list of things that I've never heard of. But still - this is the most interesting thing I've stumbled across in a long time!
- yetihehe 5y ago
  The only abiotic explanation of those puffbals I could come with is recrystallization of dry ice. I've many times seen water recrystallized as white puffy balls (a kind of very small hail). Maybe in special pressure/temperature range that also happens to CO2? Almost all of them DON'T look like they have stalks, only spheres laying on ground, but then there is figure 30 on page 29.
- marcosdumay 5y ago
  > What, other than biology, could possibly create those 'puffballs'? Honestly, the entire thing looks like bubbles to me. If you heat some viscous material that contains some water, you'll see all of those features. The filament thing is much more lifelike to me. But keep in mind that we don't have experience on a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
deleted 5y ago
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xkjkls 5y ago
Most probably they would be fundamentally different in classification from any Bacteria/Fungi on earth.
- bdamm 5y ago
  This would be the exciting thing. If there really is fungus growing on the surface of mars, or even some life growing in the recesses of the rover, then getting samples and obtaining DNA (if the DNA is even the same structure) would almost certainly show that there are common ancestors, or there aren't. If there are common ancestors, then panspermia is all but proven. If there aren't common ancestors, then it is proven that life can evolve more easily than we thought, and the great filter becomes really shocking. Either way, big result!

by bdamm 5y ago

adriand 5y ago

The photographs are incredibly interesting. What colours my excitement about them, however, is the knowledge of how ignorant I am of non-biological processes that may produce similar results. Two examples that come to mind are stalagmites/stalactites and large crystals. Crystals, especially, exhibit behaviour that - were I unfamiliar with the phenomena that produce them - appear biological, such as growing upwards. In other words, when I excitedly ask myself the question, "What, other than biology, could possibly create those 'puffballs'?" I have to be honest that there is probably a long list of things that I've never heard of. But still - this is the most interesting thing I've stumbled across in a long time!

yetihehe 5y ago
The only abiotic explanation of those puffbals I could come with is recrystallization of dry ice. I've many times seen water recrystallized as white puffy balls (a kind of very small hail). Maybe in special pressure/temperature range that also happens to CO2? Almost all of them DON'T look like they have stalks, only spheres laying on ground, but then there is figure 30 on page 29.
marcosdumay 5y ago
> What, other than biology, could possibly create those 'puffballs'? Honestly, the entire thing looks like bubbles to me. If you heat some viscous material that contains some water, you'll see all of those features. The filament thing is much more lifelike to me. But keep in mind that we don't have experience on a non-oxidizing atmosphere.

deleted 5y ago

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xkjkls 5y ago

Most probably they would be fundamentally different in classification from any Bacteria/Fungi on earth.

bdamm 5y ago
This would be the exciting thing. If there really is fungus growing on the surface of mars, or even some life growing in the recesses of the rover, then getting samples and obtaining DNA (if the DNA is even the same structure) would almost certainly show that there are common ancestors, or there aren't. If there are common ancestors, then panspermia is all but proven. If there aren't common ancestors, then it is proven that life can evolve more easily than we thought, and the great filter becomes really shocking. Either way, big result!