NASA May Have Killed The Martians

Sneakernets writes "CNN reports that NASA may have found life on Mars via the Viking space probes in 1976-77, but failed to recognize it and killed it by accident. Dirk Schulze-Makuch, a geology professor at Washington State University, says that Mars microbes that the space probes had found were possibly drowned and baked by accident. Other experts said the new concept is plausible, but more work is needed before they are convinced. From the article: 'A new NASA Mars mission called Phoenix is set for launch this summer, and one of the scientists involved said he is eager to test the new theory about life on Mars. However, scientists must come up with a way to do that using the mission's existing scientific instruments, said NASA astrobiologist and Phoenix co-investigator Chris McKay.'"

That would explain...

[LiquidCoooled]

That would explain why we haven't heard from K'breel or the Council of the Elders for a while :(

Dilbert had a similar problem...

[Dr. Eggman]

(To intelligent life under his microscope)

We come in peace!

*Adjusts lens to get a better view*

*Squish*

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:That would explain...

[7macaw]

May be he's off inspecting the disgusting blue planet, preparing a surprise for the nasty water-breeds.

I remember this

[Marko DeBeeste]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Scarlet [wikipedia.org]

"We're here to bring democracy to...oops."

[Eternal Vigilance]

Well, at least we can learn from this sad lesson in our future missions to other sandy, desolate places. Right?

Right?


Lenny at NASA: "I used to have a little friend, but he don't move no more."

Another failure for that peanut farmer Carter

[Anonymous Coward]

And Gerald Ford.
You kids think Bush is evil-he just kills Bad Muslims. Those incompetent losers we had back in the 1970s killed the MARTIANS!!!

Well

[jaymzru]

I've seen "Mars Attacks!" Better them than us.

*sings along*

[Joebert]

Pop a Poppler in your mouth, when you come to Fishy Joe's. What they're made of is a mystery. Where they come from, no one knows. You can lick 'em. You can pick 'em. You can stuff 'em. You can stick 'em. If you promise not to sue us, you can shove one up your nose.

Well,

[ampathee]

I for one, welcome our new Martian- oops.. Nevermind.

Obligatory Star Wars Quote

[bmo]

"I feel a great disturbanc in the Force, as if billions of microbes cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced"

--
BMO

Re:Obligatory

[Anonymous Coward]

I, for one, welcome our new Earthling overlords.

      -- A. Martian

Obligatory....

[Karl Cocknozzle]

"He's dead, Jim..."

Earth

[reset_button]

Mostly harmless

No, I'm New Here

[New Here]

No, I'm New Here

It's a shame...

[cirby]

...they don't have a microphone on the lander.

That way, all they have to do is run the same tests, and listen for millions of tiny little screams.

Can't you read?

[Anonymous Coward]

They're *dead*. :-)

Re:"We're here to bring democracy to...oops."

[markana]

Right - we've found an effective method of killing off the natives before we colonize the place.... :-)

Re:Marvin will get angry

[Axe]

..not Martians - Sea-men

Kyle: Wow! That's a lot of seamen, Cartman.
Cartman: Yeah, I bought all that I could at this bank, and then I got the rest from this guy Ralph in an alley.
Stan: That's cool.
Cartman: Yeah, and the sweet thing is, the stupid asshole didn't even charge me money for it. He just made me close my eyes and suck on a hose.

Well, that explains it

[djupedal]

"..failed to recognize it and killed it by accident"

I seem to recall Cheney using a similar excuse when he shotgunned a hunting partner in his ass...

Dead Martians

[the_mind_]

What did they expect when they named it "Viking"?

Re:Well, that explains it

[haapi]

Unless his partner was suffering from rectal-cranial inversion, the blast was to his face.

Re:Well, that explains it

[thedarknite]

I could have sworn Cheney shot an 87 year old man in the face.

Re:Can't you read?

[MrShaggy]

They're not dead, they're just pining for the fjords.

Re:old video

[scottv67]

Was that the rock monster episode?

Rock monster? Rock monster??? Jeeeeesus!!! Every geek knows that the creatures were called "Hortas".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horta_(Star_Trek) [wikipedia.org]

This is the Star Trek episode where we got to hear McCoy complain to Capt Kirk, "Damn-it Jim, I'm a doctor not a bricklayer!" as he was patching the wounds on the Horta.
That quote is mentioned on the bottom of the Wikipedia page.

Rock monster? Please turn in your geek card at the door. ;^)
Just for grins, what is your name for the furry creatures in "The Trouble with Tribbles?" :^)

Re:The Ant Effect

[R3d M3rcury]

Small consolation for the millions of affected microbes.

Won't somebody think of the microbes?!

Wait...

[TheSpoom]

Why was the NASA probe playing yodeling music?

Re:Dead Martians

[Tablizer]

What did they expect when they named it "Viking"?

Because Rape II, Pillager 4, and Plunder 7 all failed during landing.
     

WMD

[Malfourmed]

Weapons of Mars Destruction?

Re: killing off the natives before we colonize

[Anonymous Coward]

> This whole thing is really like "War Of The Worlds" in reverse, isn't it? We do to others exactly what we fear and claim they're trying to do to us.

Oh, now come on! It's not like we intentionally sent giant tripods to another world and started vaporizing the indigenous... ...oh, wait. Never mind!

Re:NASA Beware!.....

[Tablizer]

may be on the hook for untold millions in reparations if we begin colonizing Mars in the future.

On the bright side, 12,463 microbes confessed to being Al Queda members just before their death.
       

Re:old video

[SleepyHappyDoc]

Just for grins, what is your name for the furry creatures in "The Trouble with Tribbles?

Flatcats.

Re:Marvin will get angry

[Anonymous Coward]

Dude, these are the Sea Monkeys, not the martians...

Re:No, I Am New Here

[Am New Here]

I Am New Here

Re:old video

[networkBoy]

-1 pedantic but shouldn't it Earth Fly Traps when on Mars? :-)
-nB

Go Earth!

[Anonymous Coward]

The first step in Human/Martian relations.

Re:That would explain...

[MadJo]

He was last overheard, shouting: "Ulla!"

Re:Can't you read?

[5of0]

Previously... NASA Supervisor: "Look, matey, I know a dead bacteria when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now." NASA Employee: "No, no, he's restin'! Look, there, it just moved!" NASA Supervisor: "No it didn't, you bumped the petri dish!" NASA Employee: "No, I never did anything."

Re:old video

[Thuktun]

Just for grins, what is your name for the furry creatures in "The Trouble with Tribbles?

Flatcats.

Diet Coke does not mix well with the sinuses. Ouch.

Re:I remember this

[sfraggle]

This actually reminds me of the Commander Keen story, where the Vorticons are hellbent on destroying earth after the Viking space probe landed on and killed their leader.