kosmos: Climate of Mars

Evidence: 100 • authority: 72

The climate of Mars has been a topic of scientific curiosity for centuries, in part because it is the only terrestrial planet whose surface can be easily observed in detail from Earth using a telescope. Although Mars is smaller than Earth, with only one-tenth of Earth's mass, and is 50% farther from the Sun than Earth, its climate has important similarities with Earth's, such as the presence of polar ice caps, seasonal changes, and observable weather patterns. It has attracted sustained study from planetologists and climatologists. While Mars' climate has similarities to Earth's, including periodic ice ages, there are also important differences, such as much lower thermal inertia. Mars' atm…

Evidence: 68 • authority: 72

The possibility of life on Mars is a subject of interest in astrobiology due to the planet's proximity and similarities to Earth. To date, no conclusive evidence of past or present life has been found on Mars. Cumulative evidence suggests that during the ancient Noachian time period, the surface environment of Mars had liquid water and may have been habitable for microorganisms, but habitable conditions do not necessarily indicate life. Scientific investigations for potential life on Mars began in the 19th century and continue today with telescopes and robotic probes searching for water, chemical biosignatures in the soil and rocks at the planet's surface, and biomarker gases in the atmosph…

Evidence: 57 • authority: 72

Although very small amounts of liquid water may occur transiently on the surface of Mars, limited to traces of dissolved moisture from the atmosphere and thin films, large quantities of ice are present on and under the surface. Small amounts of water vapor are present in the atmosphere, and liquid water may be present under the surface. In addition, a large quantity of liquid water was likely present on the surface in the distant past. Currently, ice is mostly present in polar permafrost. More than 5 million km3 of ice have been detected at or near the surface of Mars, enough to cover the planet to a depth of 35 meters (115 ft). Even more ice might be locked away in the deep subsurface. The…

Evidence: 57 • authority: 72

The atmosphere of Mars is the layer of gasses surrounding the planet Mars. It is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (95%), molecular nitrogen (2.85%), and argon (2%). It also contains trace levels of water vapor, oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and noble gases. The atmosphere of Mars is much colder and thinner than Earth's, with an average temperature of −59 °C (−74 °F), and a surface pressure of about 610 pascals (0.088 psi), which is about 0.6% of the Earth's value. The atmospheric density at the surface of Mars varies between about 10 and 20 g/m3, which is only 1–2% of Earth's value. The density is about 25% lower during the southern winter than in spring and autumn because carbon d…

Evidence: 46 • authority: 80

Evidence: 46 • authority: 72

Curiosity is a Mars rover that is exploring Gale crater and Mount Sharp on Mars as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. Launched in 2011 and landed the following year, the car-sized rover continues to operate more than a decade after its original two-year mission. Curiosity was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on November 26, 2011, at 15:02:00 UTC and landed on Aeolis Palus inside Gale crater on Mars on August 6, 2012, 05:17:57 UTC. The Bradbury Landing site was less than 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the center of the rover's touchdown target after a 560 million km (350 million mi) journey. Mission goals include an investigation of the Martian climate and geology, an assessme…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 80

Evidence: 40 • authority: 92

High-altitude balloon platform for studying the biological response of living organisms exposed to near-space environments.. The intangible desire to explore the mysteries of the universe has driven numerous advancements for humanity for centuries. Extraterrestrial journeys are becoming more realistic as a result of human curiosity and endeavors. Over the years, space biology research has played a significant role in understanding the hazardous effects of the space environment on human health during long-term space travel. The inevitable consequence of a space voyage is space ionizing radiation, which has deadly aftereffects on the human body. The paramount objective of this study is to pro…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 92

Searching for extraterrestrial life advances terrestrial sustainability.. Astrobiology, while traditionally focused on understanding the origin of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere, offers powerful tools and insights for addressing urgent challenges on our planet. We call for a deliberate integration of astrobiological research with applied science. Knowledge gained from biological systems and study sites on Earth that guide investigation of planetary bodies in our solar system can inform strategies for carbon capture, low-carbon energy production, waste remediation, and biotechnology. Therefore, we argue that astrobiology must evolve to become a bidirectional science that…

Evidence: 40 • authority: 72

Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a robotic space probe mission to Mars launched by NASA on November 26, 2011, which successfully landed Curiosity, a Mars rover, in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012. The overall objectives include investigating Mars's habitability, studying its climate and geology, and collecting data for a human mission to Mars. The rover carries a variety of scientific instruments designed by an international team.

Evidence: 35 • authority: 80

Evidence: 35 • authority: 92

Tragedies of Technology: An Exploration of Such Narratives.. Technologies such as AI, autonomous drones, gene-editing tools, and climate engineering are profoundly transforming human life in the third decade of the 21st century. Experience of previous technological leaps points to ambivalent effects that at times may be considered "tragic." This paper examines the relationship between technology and tragedy, contributing to the fields of technology ethics, technology assessment, and the philosophy of the human-environment relationship. The relationship between technology and tragedy is double-edged. On the one hand, technology can serve to eliminate tragedy, e.g. by ensuring safety by desig…