Mars lab finds nutrient minerals plants use

[WhiteTara]

Source: SF Gate

The robotic laboratory aboard the Phoenix spacecraft on Mars has stirred up a batch of Martian mud and found some of the very chemicals that nourish living plants and microbes on Earth, scientists reported Thursday.

The soil is highly alkaline - just the kind that allows primitive organisms to thrive in parts of Antarctica and sprouts asparagus, turnips and green beans in California's warmer climes.

Not that anyone expects vegetables to grow on Mars. The Phoenix lab has not yet begun experiments to look for the kinds of organic compounds essential for life to thrive.
snip
And then came the big news: Samuel Kounaves, a chemist on the team from Tufts University, reported that the lab analysis had revealed a variety of essential nutrient minerals in the salty soil, including soluble magnesium, sodium, potassium and various chloride compounds. He and his colleagues are virtually certain they also will find sulfates in the soil and perhaps many others as the experiments continue.

"This is the first wet chemical analysis ever made on the Martian soil - or on any other planet besides Earth - by our robotic lab assistant," Kounaves said. "It performed flawlessly and we're all very flabbergasted at the data we got back."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/27/MN3P11FNT9.DTL

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wow!

[pattmarty]

1. "Strange primate skeletons found that seem to be..........

..........a long lost species Liberal voter-us thought to be long extinct".

[Vidar]

9. LOL. Reminds me of an old Bill Murray skit on SNL--the Last Liberal.

[Gman]

2. Miracle Grow should work well there too

[AngryAmish]

3. Are there electrolytes? It is what plants crave.

[Frank Cannon]

6. Ah, you already beat me to it

Great minds think alike, I guess.

[Frank Cannon]

4. They found Brawndo on Mars?

It has what plants crave!

[LiberalEsto]

5. But there aren't any bees on Mars

No bees = no pollination = no veggies

[1620rock]

7. This is exciting news! Thanks for posting.

[LiberalEsto]

11. Making Mars safe from dreaded turnips...

Any time.

[grahamhgreen]

8. Will it grow weed?

[truthisfreedom]

10. "Weed discovered on Mars"

"Scientists yesterday announced that they've discovered high-test marijuana growing near the north pole of Mars. Observers say analysis indicates that 'Mars Red' is more potent than last year's winner of the Amsterdam Pot Contest. Few will be able to experience it, though, as returning it to Earth will result in a likely $11B/gm street price. In other news, a surprising 473,258 job applications were received by email at NASA this morning, mostly for positions as astronauts in bush's Mars program."

[Jack_DeLeon]

12. We should start terraforming already...

Send some more bots to start the work while we work on getting set up to send people there.

[ohio2007]

13. Experiments for finding/using water on the moon must be the first step before taking it to mars.

Here is an accurate tribute to what it was like in July, 39 years ago for the few posting here who remember it;


http://youtube.com/watch?v=dIkHLO93lCA

This is the next manned step thats been put on hold