https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject Is Mars Habitable? en-us 2018-05-22 13:28:37 UTC 2026-02-26 13:19:57 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Planets.png shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262687897      A major aspect in determining whether or not a planet or moon can sustain life is whether or not it is in the “habitable zone.”  Many Astrobiologists believe that in order for a planet or moon to be habitable, it must be in the estimated habitable zone of a star.  Mars fits this requirement, as it is only roughly 141 million miles away from our enormous, life-giving sun, putting it right in the “habitable zone” of the star.  If it were too close to our Sun, Mars would become “tidally locked.”  This means that the gravitational pull from the Sun would cause only one side of the planet to face the star at all times.  This would cause the side facing the Sun to become much too hot and the side facing away much too cold.  Obviously, if Mars was too far from the Sun, it would become much too cold to sustain life . . . more cold than it already is.  Because of Mars's good location in relation to the Sun, it has a reasonable temperature (or at least, one we could work with) and sunlight reaches the planet. with ease.  Like Earth, Mars is in a pretty good spot, meaning it passes this requirement and has a chance of sustaining life in this aspect. ]]> 2018-05-22 13:41:40 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262687897 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262692972     There are four substances needed to sustain life: carbon, water, oxygen, and nitrogen.  The first two are carbon and water, two very important elements.  Carbon is a very vital substance that is almost required for life to be present in a new location.  This is due to its versatility and ability to form a variety of new molecules.   This doesn’t mean that life on Mars will have DNA and cells, however, as it does on Earth.  Another important aspect of life is obviously water.  Water is unlike any other liquid substance due to its properties and it’s composition, made up of hydrogen and oxygen—two basic and helpful elements.  It is in fact a major contributor to why Earth is habitable in the first place.  If these two elements are present, water and carbon, Mars would have a much greater chance of having life.  Basically Mars’s entire atmosphere is made of carbon dioxide, so it has plenty of carbon to sustain life.  In addition, it has recently been confirmed by NASA scientists that water flows on Mars.  There has also been ice sheets on Mars's surface. These substances aren't as important for a quick visit to the planet, as Astronauts will be wearing very high-tech uniforms that protect them from many elements and supply them with necessary elements.  These two are mostly needed for the actually habitation of humans on Mars in which humans live there without wearing the Astronaut uniforms all the time.  That being said, the presence of these two also point to the conclusion that Mars passes this test and is another step closer to sustaining life.]]> 2018-05-22 13:53:10 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262692972 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262694864    1. https://lco.global/spacebook/what-are-requirements-life-arise-and-survive/         
2.  http://www.astronomy.com/news/2017/05/could-we-live-on-mars
3.  ttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mars-surface-may-be-toxic-bacteria-180963966/
4.  http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest-blogs/2017/20170921-mars-isru-tech.html
5.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars#Oxygen
6.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terraforming_of_Mars
7.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Oxygen_ISRU_Experiment
8.  https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars
9.  https://www.computerworld.com/article/2490934/emerging-technology/when-astronauts-breathe-on-mars--they-ll-thank-mit-professor.html
10.  https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/06/140625-kepler-exoplanets-life-astrobiology-goldilocks-nasa/]]> 2018-05-22 13:57:42 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262694864 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262697611   The atmosphere of Mars is mostly carbon dioxide, the surface of the planet is too cold to sustain human life, and the planet’s gravity is a mere 38% of Earth’s. Plus, the atmosphere on Mars is equivalent to about 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere at sea level.  The temperature on Mars is -80 degrees Fahrenheit.  It is very rocky and dusty on the surface and it has clouds and wind like Earth.  According to Jason Daley, a journalist for the Smithsonian website, a new study suggests that "the presence of ultraviolet light, perchlorates, a class of chemical compounds widespread on Mars’ surface, turn deadly for bacteria."  It has been known for a while that the planet involves many toxic substances, but many scientists believe that with the help of new-coming advanced technologies, humans will be able inhabit Mars. If humans create oxygen on the planet, using a complex machine designed to produce oxygen from Martian carbon dioxide, humans could breathe on the red planet.  NASA plans to send men on Mars by 2030 and SpaceX wants to send humans be 2024.  I believe that humans will be able to live on Mars in the near future with the help of new technologies. There is always the option of terraforming Mars, which, if successful, will definitely result in Mars being able to sustain human life. There is obviously no way to tell if there is any life that is hostile or any other aspects that can kill us off. We will discover that when we reach the planet.]]> 2018-05-22 14:03:54 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/262697611 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263335769 2018-05-24 13:10:06 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263335769 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263336730 2018-05-24 13:12:37 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263336730 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263342602      If there is indeed life on Mars, we should first try to be friendly.  If there is life on Mars, it would certainly mean that our colonization on Mars is not just possible, but probable.  We could be living with the life on Mars on the same planet, so we should try to communicate and befriend them.  Hopefully the kindness will be successful and we can live in peace.  However, if they turn out to be hostile, we should first try to negotiate and calm the extraterrestrial life down.  If it does turn out to be a war between us and them, than we must prepare and fight them.  The difficult thing is fighting Martians while dealing with problems and fights on Earth.  We would also have to make new weapons to fight them, including a lot of battle spaceships.  ]]> 2018-05-24 13:27:56 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263342602 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263348400 2018-05-24 13:40:36 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263348400 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263349075 Carbon Atom]]> 2018-05-24 13:42:10 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263349075 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263355967      The terraforming of Mars is the deliberate altercation of Mars's climate and environment to make it safer and easier for human to colonize.  It is mostly hypothetical, but what if we actually attempted to terraform Mars?  First of all, we don't quite have the technology to totally change Mars's atmosphere from carbon dioxide.  Obviously, we won't be able to breathe on the planet if it is totally carbon dioxide.  Secondly, the atmospheric pressure is way different than Earth's.  It is much lower than humans can withstand for a long period of time, along with the fact that Mars's atmosphere is 1% of Earth's.  Thirdly, the gravity on Mars is 38% of that on Earth, making everything harder.  Not to mention the cost of this would be around $3 trillion.  That being said, it is still possible, as there are many upsides as to why life and the terraforming if Mars are possible.]]> 2018-05-24 13:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263355967 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263359898      According to National Geographic, there are six things needed for life to arise in a certain location: water, sunlight, nitrogen, oxygen, temperature, and nothing else that will kill life off. If Mars passes all six of these tests, it will prove to have great potential to sustain human life. ]]> 2018-05-24 14:10:00 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263359898 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263361817     Oxygen and nitrogen are also two vital substances for life to arise.  These two substances are deemed essential for life to arise by National Geographic.  Nitrogen is 78% of Earth's atmosphere and oxygen is 21%, the two combined being a whopping 99% of the atmosphere, proving they are very important to a life-giving and safe atmosphere. As for oxygen, Mars's atmosphere is 96% carbon dioxide, 1.9% argon, 1.9% nitrogen, and traces of free oxygen.   In early 2016, Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), detected atomic oxygen in the atmosphere of Mars. Even though there is oxygen and nitrogen on the planet and in the atmosphere, they are there very slightly. It is still important that they are present, and they will still help life form, but the atmosphere is still almost entirely carbon dioxide, a toxic substance to humans.  Oxygen is very important to life because it replenishes cells and gives them energy. It is in the blood, being transported through blood cells to other cells, giving them energy and life. In fact, when you hold your breath, the problem is that you aren't getting oxygen and carbon dioxide is building up in your blood.  This absence of the important oxygen results in great discomfort, fainting, and sometimes even death.  Nitrogen is obviously vital, as it makes up more than 3/4 of Earth's atmosphere.  It contains amino acids, the building blocks for protein and life.  These are vital to the functioning of human life.  Proteins create muscles, tissue, organs, enzymes, etc. The presence of these two elements, as well, also point to the conclusion that Mars can host life.]]> 2018-05-24 14:15:21 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/263361817 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264245440 Terraforming of Mars]]> 2018-05-29 13:16:50 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264245440 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264254283      In conclusion, humans will someday live on Mars, with the right technology.   We aren't quite there yet, but, at the rate technology is advancing, it will be very soon, perhaps even in the next decade. There are obviously some obstacles and downsides to Mars, as expected. However, the red planet shows great potential, especially with the help of humans.  It basically passed the six elements of life based on what little is known about Mars's climate and environment. As already mentioned, with some technology we should be able to inhabit, not just visit Mars. It would be expensive and very difficult, and it may take awhile. That being said, just like anything, with enough time, effort, and determination, we will someday get to live on Mars. ]]> 2018-05-29 13:41:57 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264254283 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264257909 2018-05-29 13:51:46 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264257909 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264258072 2018-05-29 13:52:20 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/264258072 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265216886 2018-06-03 15:12:00 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265216886 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265231649 2018-06-03 18:15:17 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265231649 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265260230 2018-06-04 00:33:07 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265260230 shsz6 https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265260280 2018-06-04 00:33:38 UTC https://padlet.com/shsz6/stephensproject/wish/265260280