Re: Can trees grow on Mars?

From: Matthew Ota (matthewota_at_bigvalley.net)
Date: 09/24/04 

Date: Fri, 24 Sep 2004 09:03:56 GMT

By definition, "soil" contains biological content. The surface of Mars,
as well as the moon, is called "regolith". This is a loose material
analagous to soil, but is void of any biological content.

Matthew Ota
Not an astrogeologist, but I did stay at the Holiday Inn...

Algomeysa2 wrote:

> "Tom Hise" <nc0o@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:10l6u36rc025udd@news.supernews.com...
>
>>On 23 Sep 2004 17:40:34 -0700, nitromill@hotmail.com (Evan-Josh Roose)
>>wrote:
>>
>
>>>1) Even in the places where we think there is water, there probably isn't
>>>
>>enough. In general plants need liquid water.
>>
>>2) It gets too cold at night - way too cold.
>>
>>3) The 'soil' is not much more than sand and lacks the necessary nutrients
>>in sufficient amounts.
>>
>>4) Sending earth-based life would confuse any search for native Martian
>>life.
>>
>
> In addition to your points, the soil on Mars would be something like
> planting them in powdered rust and bleach, from what I've read.
>
> Also, the radiation would probably kill 'em, even if somehow they could
> survive otherwise.
>
>
>
>
>

Relevant Pages