This image from the University of Colorado at Boulder shows a reconstructed view of the Shalbatana lake on Mars as it may have looked roughly 3.4 billion years ago. A UCB research team claims to have discovered the first definitive evidence of shorelines on Mars, a finding with implications for the discovery of past life on the Red Planet. Data used in reconstruction came from NASA and the European Space Agency.
(University of Colorado/AFP)Photos (1 of 1)
Paging Ziggy Stardust: Scientists hail ‘unambiguous’ evidence of Mars lake
By Matthew Shaer | 06.18.09
Is there life on Mars? You’ll have to ask David Bowie.
But according to a scientific research team at the University of Colorado-Boulder, there is finally definitive evidence of a shoreline on the Red Planet. Using images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which blasted off from Florida in 2005, UC scientists say they have found traces of a lake some 3.4 billion years old.
Lake Shalbatana appears to have covered as much as 80 square miles, and bottomed out at more than 1,500 feet deep. If accurate, the UC study, which was published in the online edition of the journal Geophysical Research Letters, could trigger a significant shift in our understanding of the history of Mars.
“On Earth, deltas and lakes are excellent collectors and preservers of signs of past life,” said Gaetano Di Achille, a researcher at UC, said in a statement. “If life ever arose on Mars, deltas may be the key to unlocking Mars’ biological past.” He called the find the “first unambiguous evidence of shorelines on the surface of Mars.”
Ice on Mars?
Of course, this isn’t the first report of possible life on Mars. In 2002, the US orbiter Mars Odyssey detected the presence of ice on Mars’ north pole. And almost a year ago to the day, the Mars Phoenix Lander confirmed that frozen water once existed on the planet.
Bonus fact: the team manning the Phoenix probe announced the news by Twitter. “Are you ready to celebrate?” they tweeted. “Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!”
The holy grail?
Speaking to one reporter, Brian Hynek, an assistant professor at UC, couldn’t conceal his excitement. “Finding shorelines is a Holy Grail of sorts to us,” he said. “Not only does this research prove there was a long-lived lake system on Mars, but we can see that the lake formed after the warm, wet period is thought to have dissipated.”
Others warned against jumping to conclusions. Cornell University Mars expert Jim Bell told the Associated Press it was “a neat find,” but said he’d like more data – besides images – to supplement the findings.
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2. garydc | 06.19.09
of course there is no life now or in the past on Mars;life fills every available niche,as Earth proves.right now Mars isn’t dead,it’s sterile.but the water will come in handy when I establish my square pig farm on the north slope of the valles marineris.I hope this message won’t inflame the environmentalist groups!
3. Alan | 06.20.09
Neat find…..only! What do the skeptical scientists want to see? Umbrella and people sipping margarita before to accept the idea of water on Mars?
4. Logical | 06.21.09
I’m really quite impressed to see the article written on this website! I thought the Christian view was, well, different. Acceptance of this content is quite a step forward into free thinking based on fact and science and not lore, superstition, and fear. Sort of like an AA meeting when a person comes to realization they are an alcoholic… ‘Hi, I’m Jim, the bible is a collection moral based stories written and rewritten in segments over hundred of years and the world is 3.5 billion years old.’
5. Nonfiction | 06.23.09
Because the existence of life outside our world cannot be proven, people have to invent all kinds of scenarios to try and prove it does. Sometimes all you have to do is read the truth, I.E. The Bible. Fact and science do not explain to me how or why the universe came into existence…but the Bible makes it clear.
The scientific community says that by every statistical measurement known, life should be in great abundance in our own galaxy- and elsewhere.
Yet to date we have found no basis to support that conclusion. However, If you read and believe the Bible, it’s quite obvious what the truth of that belief is.
The funny thing is most non-believers prefer to believe in the superstitions they themselves create- like little green men existing on Mars- yet treat the Bible as if its a heresy to believe it, or it’s flollowers are neanderthals for following its teachings.
Wise men should not be so certain of their beliefs- or lack of-that they out right refuse to examine any other possibility. Isn’t that taught to be the scientific way?
And until a theory can be proved veyond any reasonable doubt, other theories should always be considered.
Even some that could contradict current or popular scientific thinking.
6. Springman | 06.24.09
Hmm, let me see… a few billion years of geological evidence or 1,500~ year old book written by zealots? Guess I know which way to go with this.
It is very exciting to continue to explore the universe, to learn what we can as we can. I cannot wait until we finally can move further through our solar system and one day others in spite of the drag backwards from beliefs of our primitive past.
7. Nonfiction | 06.26.09
If the Bible was created by zealots then we are quite a lucky species, as this book has served as the basis of laws and morality in modern society as it exists today.
Little things like the Bill of Rights and the Constitution might never have existed without the Bible as a moral guide.
Gee, who knew zealots could be so clever?
We might be very lucky indeed to be “dragged back” to their beliefs, especially considering how our own society is now on the verge of self-imploding due to our society ignoring these teachings in the last
few decades.
Also,I would really love to see the day when we make contact with an alien race, but I just can’t hold my breathe that long.
8. BJ | 07.08.09
I’ve long been fascinated with this possibility. Especially considering the vastness of our Universe and the great lengths of time required to traverse it. Maybe we are only ONE of a THOUSAND Universes. Maybe the only one.
“Because the existence of life outside our world cannot be proven, people have to invent all kinds of scenarios to try and prove it does. Sometimes all you have to do is read the truth, I.E. The Bible”
I think u pretty much spelled it out yourself. Neither can be proven beyond all doubt.
9. Nonfiction | 07.09.09
As far as extraterrestrial life goes, speculation is all that we really have at this time.
It occurs to me that to my knowledge, no scientist has ever totally backed the theory that the Earth may be completely unique in the universe- for being the only spot in the known universe where life exists..but that is the theory I believe is most correct.
I remain open-minded to any evidence that this view is incorrect, but…
In the absence of any proof to the contrary, what we see is what we get.
As far as other forms of life…we have seen nothing yet. And it’s not like we haven’t been looking-we have been looking quite hard in fact.
For quite a while too.
So the odd thing is, while scientific evidence actually supports this theory of a unique Earth- not a single scientist is willing to support it.
As of right now, there is no evidence- at all- of life outside our planet.
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1. Michael | 06.19.09
although the idea of life once existing on mars seems logical, until actually finding proof of it, it’ll always remain speculation. most the components that make up our bodies could be found within the local hardware store. Mars needs a lot more study before jumping to conclusions. just because the components are on mars, doesnt mean life itself actually existed there.