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Liquid Water Found in Mars – Good news to space enthusiasts

Updated on September 29, 2015

Talks have been going on for decades about the possibility of mass migration of people from earth to this other planet. The idea that the fourth planet from the sun, Mars could support life got another backing after the discovery of flowing water in this planet. According to North America Scientists Association, NASA, there are masses of flowing water on the surface of Mars. We all know that water is one of the most essential chemicals which are important for human survival. This article will look at some of their conditions essential for survival and their state in planet Mars.All the right chemicals might be present but if the physical conditions are not appropriate, these chemicals will not undergo the chemical reactions necessary to form life.

The surface of planet mars


Water flow on the surface of Mars

Flow-like features in Dunes on Richardson Crater, Mars
Flow-like features in Dunes on Richardson Crater, Mars | Source


Water is the main component of the body cells of living organisms from single celled to multicellular. It acts as the medium for transportation of nutrients and removal of body wastes. The level of water requirement varies from one organism to another. Quality of water required for survival also does vary. Some organisms are able to survive in saline water while others do require fresh water.Water being discovered on the surface of Mars is good news to Space enthusiasts but we have to ask ourselves questions on quality. Will this water be able to support the life of flora and fauna?. Nasa researchers using an imager aboard the Mars reconnaissance Orbiter show the watery flows by looking at the light waves returned from seasonal dark streaks on the surface. The finding report however went on to show that that water has high level of salinity meaning that in its current state it may not be fit for humans.Mass just like planet earth has seasons. During the cold season, water remains in the frozen state due to low temperatures associated with the thinness of its atmosphere.

The atmosphere of planet mars


2. Air - Oxygen and Carbon (iv) oxide

Oxygen and carbon dioxide are some of the essential gases for flora and fauna survival. Plants and some other anaerobic organisms require carbon (iv) oxide for survival. They utilize the gas in their food manufacturing mechanism.They are the primary producers and hence all the other organisms require them for survival. The respiration process utilizes oxygen. Respiration is the chemical breakdown of food to release energy. It is therefore an essential gas for our survival.The atmosphere of Mars consist of 96% Carbon dioxide.Much of the carbon dioxide in Mars remain in carbonate state due to the reaction with water. At this carbonate state, this water is not available for organisms which require it to manufacture food. The bad bit of this is that, Mars does not have proper mechanisms which would convert this carbonate compounds into carbon dioxide.Mars planet also does not have the sufficient amount of oxygen to support human life.It has only 0.2% oxygen amount compared to our planet earth which has 21%. But oxygen being a chemical element, scientists have argued that it can be manufactured to add on the amounts which is already available. Microbes could be used to remove the excess amount of Nitrogen and add Oxygen. The utilization of biological organisms like habidable biodomes could be possible.

Dust devils on Mars sometimes obstruct sunlight


3. Light

We all need light. In primary producers that are plants, light initiates the process of photolysis which is breaking water molecule into Oxygen and Hydrogen atoms. It is this Hydrogen that Is applied in the process of Carbon dioxide fixation to form carbohydrates in plants. Therefore light at the light intensity and duration is essential for our survival. The atmosphere of Mars has strong storms and winds. This means that dust is always moving in air. This dust usually block the rays of sunlight for very long periods of time which might therefore be another obstacle.

4. Wind

As already stated, Mars has seasons like planet earth. There are those times when winds are so strong that they cause atmospheric disturbances. Distribute dust and debris all over the surface. This dust actually hinders the penetration of light for periods up to months.

FIDO Rover on the surface of Red planet, Mars



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    • Credence2 profile image

      Credence2 2 years ago from Florida (Space Coast)

      Interesting article,

      Mars remains uninhabitable for man and life as we know it without elaborate life support systems. The atmosphere of Mars is so thin that its environment is closer to that of the moon over the Earth. Terraforming is a possibility, but to thicken the atmosphere and infuse oxygen to the levels allowing people to live at least in the beggining without a pressure suit, although respirators would be needed, would take centuries at the current level of technology.

      We must take care of this planet as there really isn't anything near as habitable in our neighborhood. I would not get terribly excited yet.

      Are we ready? While people have lived in orbit for extended periods, they have always been resupplied from the Earth. On a trip to Mars, there is no lifeline this time. Can we build a self sufficient biosphere to keep people alive and healthy on the several month journey to and from Mars?

      I also understand that that while we have the technology to insulate against the Martian cold, what about the solar radiation that Earth's atmosphere normally filters out?

      We should have been working on a lunar base.

      A lunar base as a springboard for training astronauts to survive in low gravity environments and cut from the terrestial umbilical cord, would have been smarter. The amount of energy needed to launch from a lunar platform toward Mars is far less than needed to escape Earth's gravity well.

      There is a lot to do and to learn and I would be surprised if we could get a manned mission to the Red Planet within the first half of this century.

    • kalinin1158 profile image

      Lana Adler 2 years ago from California

      I think this is just the beginning in the series of upcoming exciting announcements about the planet Mars.

    • Scott Sumner profile image

      Scott Sumner 2 years ago

      It seems that even though the presence of water could mean life on Mars they won't test that theory for a long time yet. They are afraid to contaminate it with Earth microbes. Apparently we just can't sterilize probes 100%.

    • Atz profile image

      Athul M R 2 years ago from Calicut, Kerala, INDIA

      This is so cool

    • CWanamaker profile image

      CWanamaker 2 years ago from Arizona

      Really cool news. I hope this leads to a renewed interest in Mars by the general public.

    • ThatMommyBlogger profile image

      Missy 2 years ago from The Midwest

      I'm pretty excited about this.