Hobbies And Interests
Atmosphere
Currently, the Martian atmosphere is toxic to life, lacking the amounts of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide conducive to life. In a presentation to the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts, Christopher England of the Engineering Research Group proposed a method of producing these gases on Mars in percentages approximating those on Earth. Dr. England and his associates hypothesized that by liquefying and then splitting the carbon dioxide abundant in Martian air, they could create gaseous oxygen, with carbon monoxide as a byproduct. These gases -- along with nitrogen, argon, xenon and water vapor -- can be separated from the carbon dioxide.
Temperature
One Earth-damaging process could present the perfect answer to rehabilitating Mars' climate. Accumulation of carbon dioxide and other gases in Earth's atmosphere has led to the greenhouse effect, which does not allow the sun's heat to escape back into space. Margarita Marinova and colleagues, researchers with the NASA Ames Research Center, hypothesized that if they could design an assembly of gases similar to greenhouse gases, they could raise the temperature on Mars sufficiently to liquefy the frozen carbon dioxide and ice. Designed gases such as octafluoropropane would be 10,000 times more effective than carbon dioxide and remain in the atmosphere for a long time. This warming effect could wake any life forms currently in inactive states.
Water
Life on Earth began in the water, and all life harbors water within cells. Once upon a time, liquid water on Mars filled oceans and flowed in rivers, just as on Earth. Because Mars' atmosphere thinned over time, possibly due to a catastrophic collision with a space object or climate change, the planet's water was lost to space. The only water now present on Mars occurs possibly underground and at its polar ice caps like those on Earth. If scientists could thicken Mars' atmosphere and raise its surface temperature above 0 degrees Celsius, water's freezing point, water could exist once again as a liquid.
Solar Radiation
The sun's rays act as a heavy-duty x-ray machine, sending out invisible ultraviolet rays that mutate DNA. Even if Mars warmed and water once again flooded its surface, the problem of surviving the radiation remains. On Earth, the ozone layer absorbs ultraviolet rays, shielding organisms from harm. With no Martian ozone layer, even organisms living beneath the ground may avoid the harmful rays only for a certain time. Other organisms may be able to survive with a covering of Mars' iron-rich dust, which absorbs the radiation. Scientists are exploring the ability of a red bacteria species, Deinococcus radiodurans, to convert radioactive elements into innocuous substances in low temperature and water conditions.
Pioneer Life Forms
Introducing a type of primitive organism from Earth's history called cyanobacteria could pave the way for more complex forms of life. Cyanobacteria abounded on Earth 2.5 million years ago, helping other organisms to survive hostile conditions. Similar to their accomplishment in the Mongolian desert, cyanobacteria can shape the Martian landscape by transforming Martian dust into hardened crust. Cyanobacteria may also contribute oxygen to the Martian atmosphere, just as they did on Earth in the course of producing their food. Although cyanobacteria can survive hostile conditions, they still need a source of liquid water and shielding from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Plant Survivability
Scientists are envisioning a type of hybrid plant that can survive the cold, tolerate ultraviolet radiation and grow in a greenhouse right on the surface of Mars. Drs. Wendy Boss and Amy Grunden of North Carolina State University are working on inserting genes designed to endure cold temperatures, lack of water and high ultraviolet radiation into plants. These plants will provide food, medicine and oxygen to Mars' future inhabitants. The researchers have already had success in incorporating a gene called "superoxide reductase" into tobacco plants, allowing the plants to disperse harmful chemicals created by plants undergoing stressful conditions.