Is there life on Mars?
Aug 23rd, 2007 by Moonage
I’ve probably used that title before. It’s a fun Bowie song
Joop Houtkooper of the University of Giessen in Germany thinks life can exist on Mars based on a hydrogen peroxide and water. These guys would be tiny microbes. But, in the definition of “life”, that would fit just fine and forever re-define the “is there life out there” argument as it would just simply become “is there intelligent life out there”. However, Norman Pace of the University of Colorado ( who else used to work there? ), claims that this logic doesn’t fly because “Hydrogen peroxide inside cells is deadly in terrestrial kinds of cells,” Pace said. “In fact, that’s one way that our cells combat bacteria, by producing hydrogen peroxide locally.”
Earth to Pace, we’re not talking terrestrial here. We’re talking Mars. A simple example of why I think Pace has his mind set already is illustrated quite often where I live:
If you examine closely, you’ll see a tree growing out of a rock. Now, one would normally assume that rocks don’t make the best fertilizer for trees. However, a tree, once rooted, will grow about anywhere. There are life forms on this planet that thrive IN volcanic releases miles below the surface of the ocean. Once outside of that very unique, hot, and violent environment, they die immediately. So, to tell me that something can not exist on Mars because it wouldn’t do all that well on Earth is meaningless to me. It’s narrow in it’s logic, and scares me coming from a “scientist”. I’m not saying Joop’s right or wrong, I’m saying we need to think like Joop. We need to examine Joop’s assertion. Simply dismissing it because of what you see here is meaningless.
It will make no difference to one single person on Earth whether Joop is right or wrong. However, what will make a difference to everyone on Earth is if science closes it’s collective mind and totally dismisses ideas outside of the box.
