Mars may contaminate Earth with bacteria

[Venom]

SCIENTISTS warned yesterday we need to protect ourselves from an attack of deadly diseases — from the planet Mars.

They fear space probes exploring Mars may contaminate Earth with bacteria on their return.

Experts say humans could be at risk of infections for which there are no cures.

The warning comes after scientists studied data from the probe Opportunity which landed on Mars in January.


mars attacks
But this ... data from Opportunity probe

Jeffrey Kargel, of the US Geological Survey, said: “Before proceeding with sample returns or human missions to Mars, we must review measures for planetary biological protection.”

Dr Kargel said it seemed increasingly likely that life had existed on Mars.

The nearest we’ve come to Martian grief so far was in the 1996 comedy sci-fi film Mars Attacks.                    

[New Era Outlaw]

Hm. Now THAT is scary.
And I remember Mars Attacks....pretty funny movie.                    

[Exar_Kun]

Wouldn't any bacteria be frozen dead by the vaccuum of space on it's way back?
Or roasted on re-entry?                    

[Bsensei]

Wouldn't any bacteria be frozen dead by the vaccuum of space on it's way back?
Or roasted on re-entry?

This may be a good point he makes, because the molecular stucture of the bacteria must change on te journey and on reentry also another thing to take into consideration.... the conditions on mars will not be the same here, how do they know the bacteria will even be able to 1. survive the trip and 2. survive when and if it gets here?? nice info though makes u think  [_[                      

[JïhåÐ Wã®lØrd]

but it still remains fact that life could have existed on mars as there has been proof that has been brought back to earht that there has been water on mars                      

[ShinSagat]

suppose is  d same virus kill out d curious martians                        

[TriniXaeno]

not if it's brought back in a container with a sample designed to withstand re-entry.                    

[W1nTry]

Think of it this way, the only way that a virus from mars could possibly reach earth and kill us all would be the @mericans bring back samples and try to reproduce the cell structure of whatever bacteria or virus was found. So in any case we as human will be our own downfall anyways u look at it. That aside, interesting info but a COMPLETE waste of resources and money that could solve many many MANY more of lifes problems. This is just another eg of money going into some ALREADY rich white mans pocket whilst ppl around the world die each day from disesases such as small pox which would have been so easy to eliminate in underdevelop countries with that same money. The world is a beautiful place to live, its us humans who are ugly and make it as we are...                    

[Crixx_Creww]

orrrrrrrrrrrr

how bout the fact that the freakin bacteria is already dead ! *gasP*
that could be a nice counter measure from us getting infected! *rolls eyes*


stupid ass media hype                    

[DeadEyes]

alright wintry you may and i say MAY have a point there, but what you seem to be forgetting is that they're lookin at populating one of those planets, i think it can be done, and if there is life that existed on Mars what was there could pose a threat to us in way's we could not imagine, they're simply acting on an extreme case of CYA (cover your arse) i don't blame them, cuz the world may just blow them to ish for dropping something like that on us in their well intentioned stupidity                    

[camrE]

Hmmm. you know the russians are very interested in space travel too right? I highly doubt America would have the right to lay claim to Mars.                      

[New Era Outlaw]

but it still remains fact that life could have existed on mars as there has been proof that has been brought back to earht that there has been water on mars

(head explodes from gratuitous and shameless use of an -extremely- BAD pun)

                     

[DeadEyes]

lol neo, when i got that email i was so excited, and then i saw that.......i fell off my chair laughing                    

[Bourbon_Ghost]

true.

and America wont be able to lay claim to Mars for themselves as they them selves stated and i quote "we do this for humanity"...so i'm quessing russians are part of humanity                    

[orginalvexman]

even doh i think the un has banned any 1 country of owning a planet  but individuals however that remains to be seen                    

[New Era Outlaw]

.....betcha 10 bucks Microsoft's going to try to lay claim on Mars FIRST.
I can see it now.

New from Microsoft!
Introducing MARS XP!!
Guaranteed to run and perform 1000000x better than the original version of Mars!
Now with Anti-Martian Firewall software!!
GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!



.....what?
It could happen.                    

[DeadEyes]

*groans* no Neo, just............no, that was wrong                    

[Crixx_Creww]

lol @ america laying claim to mars


there is actually an international law that states that no power on earth may lay claim to a celestial body.

Lol, but some guy used the wording of the law to stake the claim that the law only refers to countries and nations and not to individuals, so he is trying to lay claim that he has stake on the moon.

Lol