Blog #4

Mars, it's a very mysterious planet, and we all want to know if the the planet is capable of sustaining life. 

Many scientists believes that Mars once had oceans of liquid water on it's surface a long time ago. The only problem now is the question, "where is it now?" Liquid water is considered to be one of the most basic components so that complex life forms can survive in a planet. Water provides important minerals that can help a living creature to survive. For example: It can help distribute calcium and magnesium through out the entire body. 

How can a planet be a candidate for extra-terrestrial life? It has to follow many set of rules and qualifications but the most important qualification is that it has to be located in the "Goldilocks Zone."

This zone is a location in a solar system where the distance of the planet away from the sun is not too close to the point of incineration, and it's also no to far that the entire surface of the planet will be covered by ice. Mars is located near the Goldilocks zone saying that this planet is a likely candidate for complex life forms.

 

The recent discovery of flowing water on the martian surface indicates that there is hope that life can still survive on the red planet even if it's just bacterial lifeforms. But the discovery itself is a ground breaking discovery. To think that a planet with a very thin atmosphere is able to maintain liquid water is big news. All in all, i would like to say that the new evidence of flowing water on the martian surface is indeed an important discovery in our solar system. This discovery tells us that mars can still be transformed into a life supporting terrestrial body and has a chance of redeeming his past glory as a candidate for life in our universe.