Life in the Universe (4th Edition)
4th Edition
ISBN: 9780134089089
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Seth Shostak
Publisher: PEARSON
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Textbook Question
Chapter 8, Problem 14RQ
What is the potential significance of atmospheric methane to the search for life on Mars?
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Chapter 8 Solutions
Life in the Universe (4th Edition)
Ch. 8 - Briefly summarize the evidence, both real and...Ch. 8 - What would it be like to walk on Mars today?...Ch. 8 - Why isnt liquid water stable at the martian...Ch. 8 - How do martian seasons differ from Earth seasons?...Ch. 8 - Give a brief overview of the geography and major...Ch. 8 - How do we know that different regions of the...Ch. 8 - Summarize the evidence suggesting that Mars must...Ch. 8 - What evidence suggests that water might still flow...Ch. 8 - Why do we conclude that Mars must once have had a...Ch. 8 - What is the leading hypothesis concerning how Mars...
Ch. 8 - How and why does Marss axis tilt change with time,...Ch. 8 - Based on all the geographic and geological...Ch. 8 - Briefly summarize the Viking experiments and their...Ch. 8 - What is the potential significance of atmospheric...Ch. 8 - Briefly summarize plans for Mars exploration over...Ch. 8 - Discuss the issue of biological contamination in...Ch. 8 - Summarize the scientific pros and cons of sending...Ch. 8 - What do we mean by terraforming Mars? Is it...Ch. 8 - How do we know that ALH84001 really came from...Ch. 8 - Briefly summarize the possible evidence of past...Ch. 8 - The first human explorers on Mars discover that...Ch. 8 - We discover a string of active volcanoes in the...Ch. 8 - We find underground pools of water on the slopes...Ch. 8 - We discover that Mars was subjected to global,...Ch. 8 - A future orbiter finds a plume of volcanic gas...Ch. 8 - We find a lake of liquid water filling a small...Ch. 8 - The first fossils discovered on Mars come from the...Ch. 8 - A sample return mission finds fossil evidence not...Ch. 8 - We discover that the martian polar caps have in...Ch. 8 - We find rocks on Mars showing clearly that the...Ch. 8 - When we say that liquid water is unstable on Mars,...Ch. 8 - Marss seasonal winds are driven primarily by (a)...Ch. 8 - Olympus Mons is (a) a giant volcano; (b) a huge...Ch. 8 - We can recognize the oldest surface regions of...Ch. 8 - Minerals in surface rock studied by the martian...Ch. 8 - Rivers on Mars (a) have never existed; (b) existed...Ch. 8 - Which must be true if Mars was warmer and wetter...Ch. 8 - Which of the following fundamental properties of...Ch. 8 - According to the leading hypothesis, if Mars once...Ch. 8 - The Viking experiments found (a) no evidence of...Ch. 8 - The Role of the Martians. Percival Lowell may have...Ch. 8 - Learning from Past Mistakes. The Viking missions...Ch. 8 - Hold Your Breath. If you held your breath, would...Ch. 8 - Miniature Mars. Suppose Mars were significantly...Ch. 8 - Larger Mars. Suppose Mars were significantly...Ch. 8 - Civilization on Mars. Based on what we can see on...Ch. 8 - Martian Fossil Hunting. On Earth, we cannot find...Ch. 8 - Future Landing Site. Suppose you were in charge of...Ch. 8 - Terraforming Mars. Make a list of the pros and...Ch. 8 - Mars Movie Review. Watch one of the many science...Ch. 8 - Interior Heat. Compare the surface areatovolume...Ch. 8 - Atmospheric Mass of Earth. What is the total mass...Ch. 8 - Atmospheric Mass of Mars. The weaker gravity of...Ch. 8 - Past Gas on Mars. Models suggest that Mars today...Ch. 8 - Lessons from Mars. Discuss the nature of the...Ch. 8 - Human Exploration of Mars. Should we send humans...Ch. 8 - Current Mars Missions. Pick one of the Mars...Ch. 8 - Future Mars Missions. Pick one of the Mars...
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- Why is life unlikely to be found on the surface of Mars today?arrow_forwardIf we do find life on Mars, what might be some ways to check whether it formed separately from Earth life, or whether exchanges of material between the two planets meant that the two forms of life have a common origin?arrow_forwardWhy are Mars and Europa the top targets for the study of astrobiology?arrow_forward
- What evidence do we have that there was running (liquid) water on Mars in the past? What evidence is there for water coming out of the ground even today?arrow_forwardWhat are the three requirements that scientists believe an environment needs to supply life with in order to be considered habitable?arrow_forwardWhy is the simultaneous detection of methane and oxygen in an atmosphere a good indication of the existence of a biosphere on that planet?arrow_forward
- How can a planet’s atmosphere affect the width of the habitable zone in its planetary system?arrow_forwardHow was the Mars Odyssey spacecraft able to detect water on Mars without landing on it?arrow_forwardIf the Viking missions were such a rich source of information about Mars, why have we sent the Pathfinder, Global Surveyor, and other more recent spacecraft to Mars? Make a list of questions about Mars that still puzzle astronomers.arrow_forward
- The runaway greenhouse effect and its inverse, the runaway refrigerator effect, have led to harsh, uninhabitable conditions on Venus and Mars. Does the greenhouse effect always cause climate changes leading to loss of water and life? Give a reason for your answer.arrow_forwardMars and Europa are two Solar System bodies that are considered possible habitats for Earth-like life. Why?arrow_forwardSuppose that, decades from now, NASA is considering sending astronauts to Mars and Venus. In each case, describe what kind of protective gear they would have to carry, and what their chances for survival would be if their spacesuits ruptured.arrow_forward
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