this post was submitted on 03 Feb 2024
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Astronomy
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I'm glad the article mentions that in this case, it really doesn't matter; like, there seems to be nothing to 'pollute' on Mars (also 7 tonnes is not much at all). Bit of a strange headline to me.
You're not wrong with your sentiment but i think it's pretty safe to say that if we find life on Mars it's gonna be trapped in ice somehow or deep below the surface. Besides having next to no atmosphere, it also has no magnetosphere which means it takes the full blast from solar radiation. Nothing living on Earth could survive outside on the surface of Mars.
Tardigrades could potentially survive, but they would starve to death.
I suppose so, but I believe they always make sure not a single trace of Earth life is left on the equipement they sent to Mars, for obvious reasons. So they already control for that.
Besides looking pretty messy, I'm not sure this does any harm.
Mars is inhabited by robots, but the Moon is inhabited by tardigrades because China crashed a lander.
Wrong country and wrong outcome, I really nailed it. Given how hardy they are, I can't say I'm convinced they're all dead. Not that they'd actually be active without air and water