Life, water, and composition of the atmosphere is what I expect to hear about.

theres a few more threads on this topic

Wow. If 'life' in any form is announced, this is one of the biggest discoveries of all time. Even confirmation of the simplest bacteria or single-cell creature proves that we are not alone.

If our nearest planet can harbour life, just think about the other thousand billion out there. Exciting stuff.

I dearly hope that it's the announcement of water and life on Mars.

If it is. I feel there will be a lot of debate soon

NASA has become a big show with alot of PR lately. I've seen this "MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT" hyped all morning on CNN.

I can't help but think it will be disappointing.

Evidence that MAY support that Mars once had water is about as good as I expect. We shall see.

we will see won't we maybe they found micro organisms with the rat tool.

IF this is an announcement that life has been found it will spark some of the most intense debates regarding religion and philosophy EVER.

Wouldnt they need like biologists and so on, on the panel if they were going to be discussing life?

I dont see any scientists who fit the bill.


Just water if you ask me. Hopefully liqued water, hopefully liqued water that is still fairly abundent!

Anyone watching this at the moment? I'm stuck at work without a TV and am really interested!

I also noticed that the news is specifically about the findings of 'Opportunity', not the mission as a whole.

Still have about 4 hours till the press conference.....

Originally posted by triplesod
Wouldnt they need like biologists and so on, on the panel if they were going to be discussing life?

I dont see any scientists who fit the bill.


Just water if you ask me. Hopefully liqued water, hopefully liqued water that is still fairly abundent!

some of them are known with fosils if they found fosils in rocks or in the soil the geologist know enough.

even fosils was life even that means that life out side our planet is possible otherwise fosils couldn't be found out side ours. so even fosils can mean that on other planets far away life is also possible and this will enlarge the drive to find it.

so how long is left?

an hour and a half here....I'm in the Eastern Time Zone....

question: IF NASA found life or another major discovery, wouldn't the President have be involved in the speech???

i think it's going to be either fossils or confirmation that some of the rocks are really deep sea bed nodules giving credence to the idea that the area that Opportunity is in was once completely covered by water.

Originally posted by worldwatcher
question: IF NASA found life or another major discovery, wouldn't the President have be involved in the speech???

Yeah, that would make it seem much more intellectual..

Also no, but it probably would include some sort of Biologist on the panel. But having a Biologist on the pre-conference list would be somewhat of a giveaway.

I think the most exciting we could hope for is liquid water present. Most likely going to be liquid water past.

thanks for answering my question Kano.

I have a feeling this is just alot of hype, for something that most of us have already made a general conclusion on...but we'll see.

too bad, I have to wait till I return home to find out what the scoop is.

Originally posted by worldwatcher
question: IF NASA found life or another major discovery, wouldn't the President have be involved in the speech???

i think it's going to be either fossils or confirmation that some of the rocks are really deep sea bed nodules giving credence to the idea that the area that Opportunity is in was once completely covered by water.

BUt would they set up a rush press briefing if it was something such as "water was once a part of MArs", surely we already know that by now.

Also, I dont think they would fly off to Washington for this "revelation".

I think it will be slightly more interesting than that. Liqued water there presently.

BUt we can all dream that someone has given the bunny a Latin name!