4 ms·

It may change research priorities if we knew/admitted that life used to exist. If there _was_ life, we should search harder and see if it still exists and if we

• yupper32 5y ago
  > As I understand it, we're really not looking that closely for life at the moment. ??? Perseverance: https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/overview/ https://mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mission/overview/ Two out of the four science objectives: - Looking for habitability: identify past environments that were capable of supporting microbial life. - Seeking biosignatures: seek signs of possible past microbial life in those habitable environments, particularly in specific rock types known to preserve signs over time. Curiosity: https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/objectives/ https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/objectives/ Three of the eight science objectives: - Determine the nature and inventory of organic carbon compounds - Inventory the chemical building blocks of life (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, and sulfur) - Identify features that may represent the effects of biological processes
  • kadoban 5y ago
    That's, as I understand it, looking for markers that _may_ mean there was, at any point in the past, life. I think you'd look other places, and use other instruments if you're looking for actual, current, life.
    • Scarblac 5y ago
      Like where?
      • kadoban 5y ago
        South pole would be my bet.