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Mars was wet!


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Very cool info from NASA today.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/03/02/m...ings/index.html

Scientists have concluded the part of Mars that NASA's Opportunity rover is exploring was soaking wet in the past.

Evidence the rover found in a rock outcrop led scientists to the conclusion. Clues from the rocks' composition, such as the presence of sulfates, and the rocks' physical appearance, such as niches where crystals grew, helped make the case for a watery history.

"Liquid water once flowed through these rocks. It changed their texture, and it changed their chemistry," said Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., principal investigator for the science instruments on Opportunity and its twin, Spirit. "We've been able to read the tell-tale clues the water left behind, giving us confidence in that conclusion."

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They were ecstatic!

I watched the news conference on Nasa TV today and they were all grinning from ear to ear.

Squyres even said that at one time that area was probably habitable for life as we know it.

Someone asked what the possibliities were that they might find a fossil or other sign of life and one of the other scientists said probably remote, but that there are organisms that are attracted to certain salts similar to those found so they have a good idea of where to look.

Wouldn't that be something if they did.

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