Underground Water on Mars?

WaltonNews wrote in with a story about possible underground water on Mars. The article begins: "The Mars Express spacecraft, from the European Space Agency (ESA), has indicated to scientists that the dry atmosphere and surface on the planet Mars does not necessarily mean Mars is dry underneath the surface. In fact, a huge storehouse of water and carbon dioxide could be found in underground reservoirs."

Speculation...

[ilovegeorgebush]

Why does this make news? It's speculation. Can I make the /. frontpage by saying "There might be miniture Giraffes under the surface of mars"?

It'd be a fascinating article if they had found water under the surface, but this?...Come on...

Re:Speculation...

[delt0r]

A large majorty of interesting science is speculation and about 100% of popular science is halfway between speculation and fabricated. This is /.

Re:format

[misleb]

I'll take a one-way mission, too. Hell, imagine never having to wear bug spray anymore.

No need to imagine. I live in NW Oregon. No bug spray needed... even out camping in the lush forests. It is pretty great, actually.

No more poison ivy.

Talk about throwing out the baby with the bathwater...

No more dimwits trying to push their religion on you by force if necessary.

Can't say that happens to me here. The only time I ever come into (virtual) contact with a religious freak is if I opt to visit some forum or usenet group. Besides, who knows what kind of fucked up cults might develop in Martian settlements.

And you'd be spending your life building a new world.

Insofar as a corporate/government owned industrial complex outside the legal jurisdiction of Earth bound society is a "new world," sure. See, there is one huge difference between pioneering in space and pioneering on Earth. On Earth, anyone could set out and claim land on their own and live by their own means. On Mars, there would be no "on your own." The ONLY way you're going to survive on Mars is through significant investment by Earth bound corporations and/or governments. And once you're there, there may be no way back if the powers that be don't want you to go. So, if you like the idea of being a slave, have fun.

That would be a wonderful place to die.

Sounds horrible. I mean, once the novelty of being on another planet wears off.

-matthew
-matthew