Mars Express has the sophisticated science to find the water ice on Mars
"The presence of such a large amount of water ice under Mars`s surface is very surprising. Especially so close to the surface!" says Gerhard Schwehm, Head of the Planetary Missions Division at ESA. The team working on ESA`s Mars Express, the next mission to the Red Planet, is thrilled by NASA`s Mars Odyssey detection of hydrogen-rich layers under... view more... (2002-05-30)
Hitchhiking bacteria could compromise the detection of life on Mars
Is there life on Mars? It's possible, but it may not be Martian, say scientists. New research, published in the open access journal BMC Microbiology, suggests that conditions on Mars are capable of supporting dormant bacteria, known as endospores. This raises concern about future attempts to detect Martian life forms because endospores originating... view more... (2003-04-03)
Scientists Recreate Martian Environment
Scientists at the University of Leicester's Space Research Centre are recreating the hostile environment found on Mars in their laboratory, with a device known as the Martian Environment Simulator (MES). The machine reproduces the temperature, air pressure and unbreathable atmosphere known to exist on Mars. The MES is currently being used to test... view more... (2002-05-31)
Texas A&M prof to predict weather on Mars
Is there such a thing as "weather" on Mars? There are some doubts, considering the planet's atmosphere is only 1 percent as dense as that of the Earth. view more (2009-11-05)
Important role of groundwater springs in shaping Mars
Data and images from Mars Express suggest that several Light Toned Deposits, some of the least understood features on Mars, were formed when large amounts of groundwater burst on to the surface. view more (2008-12-12)
Methane doesn't necessarily mean life on Mars, says Dartmouth study
Two Dartmouth researchers have weighed in on the debate over whether the presence of methane gas on Mars indicates life on the red planet. Mukul Sharma, Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences, and Chris Oze, a postdoctoral fellow, argue that the Martian methane could have been produced by inorganic processes just as easily as by bacteria. view more (2005-06-08)
Building blocks of life formed on Mars
Organic compounds contain carbon and hydrogen and form the building blocks of all life on Earth. By analyzing organic material and minerals in the Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001, scientists at the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory have shown for the first time that building blocks of life formed on Mars early in its history. view more (2007-12-12)
Laser cancer treatment and Martian imaging
Can laser light be used to treat cancer patients? Why is the search for Martian water so important? These questions may appear to be unconnected, but they actually have more in common than you might think. Both subjects will be tackled at free public talks held at Cardiff International Arena on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 September. The talks show... view more... (2002-08-21)
Features of early Martian environment and presence of water drive search for life forms
olar energy and winds, collisions with asteroids and comets, and changing magnetic fields have all altered the environment of Mars, a planet that may have been able to support life during its history. view more (2009-04-17)
Mars Express confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere
During recent observations from the ESA Mars Express spacecraft in orbit around Mars, methane was detected in its atmosphere. Whilst it is too early to draw any conclusions on its origin, exciting as they may be, scientists are thinking about the next steps to take in order to understand more. From the time of its arrival at Mars, the Mars... view more... (2004-03-30)
Rare high-altitude clouds found on Mars
Planetary scientists have discovered the highest clouds above any planetary surface. They found them above Mars using the SPICAM instrument on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft. The results are a new piece in the puzzle of how the Martian atmosphere works. view more (2006-08-29)
No place for life to hide from Mars Express
Of all missions sent to Mars only one, the Viking 26 years ago, has dared to search for life. Its only conclusive result was that finding proof of extraterrestrial life proved to be much harder than expected. Second attempts never followed. Until now. ESA`s Mars Express, the next mission to the Red Planet and the first European one, has an... view more... (2002-09-03)
Bringing Martian samples to Earth -- preparations outlined in journal Astrobiology
A critical component of NASA's Mars exploration program involves bringing planetary samples back to Earth for in-depth analysis, plans for which are detailed in the latest issue of Astrobiology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The report is available free online at www.liebertpub.com/ast view more (2008-08-14)
Mars 96: UK Involvement In The Russian Mission
The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council had awarded more than £1/2 million funding for work by UK scientists involved in several of the MARS 96 mission's payload and systems. The largest UK contribution was from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory, led by Principal Investigator Professor Alan Johnstone. Mullard designed and... view more... (1996-11-18)
University of Leicester space scientists see the funny side of Mars
National competition offers fragment of Mars meteorite. Scientists at the University of Leicester are offering a piece of real Martian Meteorite ...to anyone who can make them laugh the loudest! One of the key teams behind the Beagle 2 Mars Mission, which is led by the Open University, has launched a national competition to find the most amusing... view more... (2003-09-25)
NAU researchers find possible caves on Mars
Applying techniques used to scope out caves on Earth to probe the possibility of caves on Mars is paying off. view more (2007-04-03)
Exploring Mars ... from Grenoble
A neutron diffraction experiment carried out recently at the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble by the physicists Bachir Ouladdiaf (ILL), Gérard Fillion and Rafik Ballou (Laboratoire Lois Néel, CNRS, GRENOBLE), in partnership with the geophysicists Pierre Rochette (CNRS and Université d'Aix-Marseille) and Lon Hood (University... view more... (2004-03-18)
The MARSIS radar estimates the volume of water in the south pole of Mars
By studying the South Polar region of Mars, the MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding) radar of the Mars Express space probe has enabled the structure of the layered deposits of this region to be elucidated. view more (2007-04-02)
The origin of perennial water-ice at the South Pole of Mars
Thanks to data from ESA's Mars Express mission, combined with models of the Martian climate, scientists can now suggest how the orbit of Mars around the Sun affects the deposition of water ice at the Martian South Pole. view more (2007-07-16)
Discovery of methane reveals Mars is not a dead planet
A team of NASA and university scientists has achieved the first definitive detection of methane in the atmosphere of Mars. This discovery indicates the planet is either biologically or geologically active. view more (2009-01-16)
|
|
