A funnel on Mars could be a place to look for life

Source

So basically with technology we have identified a place on Mars that could actually have plants consuming CO2 and releasing O2 as a waste material.

A strangely shaped depression on Mars could be a new place to look for signs of life on the Red Planet, according to a University of Texas at Austin-led study. The depression was probably formed by a volcano beneath a glacier and could have been a warm, chemical-rich environment well suited for microbial life.

www.sciencedaily.com...


The area in question appears to be the result of a Volcano generating heat underneath a Glacier, resulting in conditions that results in plant life and perhaps more hypothetically.

It could account for the spikes in methane as seen since 2009.
Very interesting. Great place to send a lander, IMO.

(Snow Tires?)

a reply to: charlyv


Yeah it is really cold their but....

originally posted by: Kashai

Source

So basically with technology we have identified a place on Mars that could actually have plants consuming CO2 and releasing O2 as a waste material.

A strangely shaped depression on Mars could be a new place to look for signs of life on the Red Planet, according to a University of Texas at Austin-led study. The depression was probably formed by a volcano beneath a glacier and could have been a warm, chemical-rich environment well suited for microbial life.

www.sciencedaily.com...

The area in question appears to be the result of a Volcano generating heat underneath a Glacier, resulting in conditions that results in plant life and perhaps more hypothetically.

The article doesn't mention anything about plants or CO2.

That is correct it mentions microbial life but it does makes sense that one celled plants to be more specific is the issue.

a reply to: Kashai

If I am correct, the orbiter had IR detection capabilities as well. I wonder why they did not show that data if they obtained it, as it would go a long way in determining if there was a thermal well that would support the theory that it may be a volcanic effect. It would also be further evidence that Mars is not completely geologically dead.

originally posted by: Kashai
That is correct it mentions microbial life but it does makes sense that one celled plants to be more specific is the issue.

What are "one celled plants"? If it's a single-cell organism, it's not a plant.

a reply to: AdmireTheDistance


It is called Photosynthesis...

en.wikipedia.org...

What are Phytoplankton?
By Rebecca Lindsey and Michon Scott
Design by Robert Simmon
July 13, 2010

Derived from the Greek words phyto (plant) and plankton (made to wander or drift), phytoplankton are microscopic organisms that live in watery environments, both salty and fresh.

Some phytoplankton are bacteria, some are protists, and most are single-celled plants. Among the common kinds are cyanobacteria, silica-encased.....

earthobservatory.nasa.gov...

a reply to: charlyv


I have seen other information at ATS and further that implies that Mars is actually not dead.

It seems credible all things considered.

originally posted by: AdmireTheDistance

originally posted by: Kashai
That is correct it mentions microbial life but it does makes sense that one celled plants to be more specific is the issue.

What are "one celled plants"? If it's a single-cell organism, it's not a plant.

Euglena is a genus of single-celled flagellate Eukaryotes. They contain chlorophyll and are photosynthetic. Plants.

PDF..

CANDIDATE VOLCANIC ICE-CAULDRONS ON MARS: ESTIMATES OF ICE MELT, MAGMA VOLUME, AND ASTROBIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS. Joseph S. Levy1, James W. Head2, Caleb I. Fassett2, Andrew G. Fountain1 1Portland State Univ. Dept. of Geology, Portland, OR, USA. 2Brown Univ. Dept. of Geological Sciences, Providence, RI, USA. [email protected].

Conclusions. The morphological properties of the North-Hellas and Galaxias Fossae depressions are strongly suggestive of ice-cauldron formation processes. Volumetric and calorimetric estimates suggest that up to a cubic kilometer of ice may have been removed in order to form these depressions (melted and/or vaporized), and that an ice-rich substrate may have cracked in response to surface subsidence to produce the observed concentric fracture (crevasse) morphology. The combined possibilities of liquid water with volcanic-gas enriched growing environments makes these features tantalizing astrobiological targets, and suggests the importance of in-situ and terrestrial-research in volcano-ice systems. Ongoing work will develop strategies for distinguishing these landforms from potential ice impact interactions observed on the Tharsis Montes tropical mountain glaciers.

www.lpi.usra.edu...

Scientists have for the first time confirmed liquid water flowing on the surface of present-day Mars, a finding that will add to speculation that life, if it ever arose there, could persist now.

www.nytimes.com...

RE-ASSESSMENT OF HYDROVOLCANISM-BASED RESURFACING WITHIN THE GALAXIAS FOSSAE REGION OF MARS. J. A. Skinner, Jr.1, L. A. Skinner2, and J. S. Kargel3, 1U. S. Geological Survey, Astrogeology Research Program, 2255 N. Gemini Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86001 ([email protected]), 2Dept. of Geology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 ([email protected]), 3Dept. Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona ([email protected]).

www.lpi.usra.edu...