Why do scientist suspect life on mars might have been possible at once?

Answer 1

Mostly because of the evidence of free water and the composition of the atmosphere.

Answer 2

They believe this because there is evidence water once flowed on mars, and may still be flowing! At the north and south poles of mars, there is frozen water, and scientists have discovered new channels every so often that weren't there before, suggesting that water may have eroded them. If there is flowing water, then there is defiently a possibility for life. Also, Mars's maximum temperature is 20 degrees celcius, very good for supporting life. Though it has an extreme minimum temperature, bacterial life could probably survive it.

Answer 3

For a number of reasons. As hostile as the Martian environment is, it is the most Earthlike--and except for the lack of atmosphere is not unlike areas of Antartica where we know there are species adapted to that environment. And Mars probably had a much thicker atmosphere in the distant past.

But the biggie is water. That's the key substance that life has to have--and we know Mars not only had water, but it still does--under the right circumstances it even is in its liquid state (briefly)--check out the most recent findings from the various Mars probes (nasa.gov or space.com)

So--all the ingredients are there. Granted, that's a long way from being able to say Mars DID have life at one time--but we do know its possible.

Answer 4

The presents of liquid water is the main motivator. Proximity to the sun and a meteorite of martian origins contained what looked like fossilized bacteria would be the other. A reason that life may never have been is the fact that there is no magnetic field on mars that would block the highly energetic radiation that the sun gives off. This may not have always been so in the distant past although.

Answer 5

They say that there used to be water on the planet, so that would certainly make a lead to the hypothesis that there was once life on Mars. Also, there are no plate tectonics on Mars, meaning that there were no earthquakes to kill anything off. Truly, I think they're jumping to awfully big conclusions very fast. Water may be a key living essential, but it's not the only one. There are so many more factors for things to live on a planet such as an atmosphere, which Mars clearly lacks.

Answer 6

Because the composition of Mars is much like that of Earth's. There are also reasons to believe that water used to be present of mars. If you look at the terrain, it looks like rivers once flowed over the planet. The poles are also covered in ice caps. Scietists believe that something catrastrophic (like being hit by a huge asteroid) caused Mars' atmosphere to go crazy and eventually vanish.

Answer 7

Because they have detected a lot of things that are necessary for life. Probably the most important thing would be liquid water. Plus, with all the exploration they have done, they have a better understanding of the ancient atmosphere and climate conditions. These also indicate that life may have been possible. It is an exciting question and I hope they get a solid answer soon!

Answer 8

From my understanding, they know that there was water on mars do to the canyons and lake beds and water is a key ingredient for life. Also, not that long ago they found fossils of what they believe to be primitive bacteria.

Answer 9

Water probably equals life, and it looks like there used to be lots of water on Mars.

Answer 10

because that's where we came from , and we gotta get back because we have now wore out this planet, we can restart mars we did it with earth and now we are almost ready , but not quite, you'll see, we just want to get back home , there is so much back on mars that we left behind ,just be patient