Unexplainable.net

Meteorite Water Furthers Potential for Mars Life

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 05:42:17 PST

Once upon a time astronomers believed the Earth to be the only planet capable of sustaining complex life for a number of reasons. One of the key reasons was the ample supply of water on our own planet. Now with evidence gathered from the red planet, there is ample evidence that Mars may have once had the same sort of water resources as our own planet located deep underground in the Martian mantle. Is this an indicator that life could have developed on Mars just like Earth?

Is Interplanetary Housing Market on the Horizon?

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:16:27 PST

Mars isn't for sale. At least not yet. Technology and mineral needs may finally be pushing the human race to take steps into the further reaches of space, mining and then returning vast fortunes of minerals the likes of which our planet has not yet seen. But there's a problem. A 1967 treaty signed by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the former Soviet Union states explicitly that no human on Earth can lay claim to territory in outer space. But as this document remains on the books barring companies from heading out toward their own asteroids and mining the riches therein, the tides of change may soon be upon this treaty.

The Hollow Phobos Theory

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:40:08 PST

While Mars may be one of the most interesting planets in our solar system, its moon Phobos is no doubt one of the most speculated on moons ever identified. Even now in the aftermath of the failed Russian mission to send a probe to the Martian moon, there is still much in the way of mystery about the obscure and possibly hollow satellite. The idea that Phobos might be hollow was first put forth by a Russian astrophysicist by the name of Iosif Samuilovich Shklovsky to explain the odd orbit it has around the red planet. Could Phobos be hollow or even, as some theorists suggest, artificial?

A Mythos of Mars

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:35:45 PST

For many years Mars has been seen as a planet ripe for exploration. And as our understanding of the red planet grew and expanded, a few of the fantastic claims and stories of the Martian surface were left behind by discovery. Nonetheless, speculation about Mars was one of the first thought exercises humanity was allowed to engage in during the early stages of Science Fiction. When Edgar Rice Burroughs first wrote the story "A Princess of Mars" he was writing about a vast unknown planet where any number of civilizations could potentially exist. And a number of theories sprang up both before and after his popular novel series.

The Self Replicating Glass Farm

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:59:49 PST

In the future, if we do eventually reach our potential as a space-faring species, one of the major limitations of our abilities will come -as it always has- in how we are able to survive in the environment deep in space. But recent developments in the fields of 3-D printing and green technology have fused in such a way that may have been overlooked by what has overwhelmingly been considered a technologically driven field. In order to escape the harsh conditions of man's humble beginnings, our species has had to consistently use the materials available to push ourselves forward. But what building materials are present on - for example - Mars?

How Advanced Before Mars Life Comfortable?

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:46:11 PST

When we think about colonizing other planets, generally it is accepted that there will be a period of time when we will be unable to do anything but subsist in the most basic capacity in an artificial environment. But are there specific technologies that will make this simple existence fuller? What technologies must we develop in order for our Mars mission to become a full civilization?

The Internet from Mars

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:44:57 PST

In the 1950's it was a commonly held belief that by the year 2000 life on the Moon would become possible and that humanity would gradually spread out to Mars and even beyond to begin colonization of other worlds. And those projections were not necessarily overly ambitious. Had the desire to move into space truly gripped us at the same level as our desire to communicate with one another, then it seems fairly likely that we would have developed the technology and infrastructure necessary to make this happen. But instead of computers getting larger and more independent, they god smaller and more connected. But when the information age eventually reaches the moon and beyond, what might it look like?

Russian Probe Loses Control On Voyage to Alien Planet

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:16:33 PST

It seems a Russian probe on its way to Mars has once again lost control of itself and started an elliptical orbit around Earth. The probe, which must be fixed remotely within two weeks or be lost completely was one of the most ambitious projects the Russian space program had engaged in. Just on the heels of the international Mars 500 program, the sudden odd behavior of the probe has been blamed on dust. But this isn't the first time a space probe suddenly lost control under mysterious circumstances while approaching Mars.

Martian Social Experiment Ends After 500 Days

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:33:13 PST

Can you imagine being stuck in a small box no larger than 1,500 square feet for a period of weeks? What about for over 500 days? That's precisely what volunteers just got finished doing in a study that lasted over a year attempting to watch the movements and actions of six volunteers to see if the isolation would give them a phenomenon known among astronauts as cabin fever or "space madness." The study was an attempt to get a deeper insight into the journey to Mars.

Mars Life Could Complicate Terraforming

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 21:17:35 PST

In the past we've covered the topic charting the possibilities of terraforming the Martian surface. But how has the playing field changed now that NASA has announced the very real possibility of water on the Martian surface? Will this simplify the process of terraforming and make it more timely? Or will there be new difficulties ahead now that we have discovered the possibility that water and even life may already exist on the Martian surface?

Liquid Flowing Water Announced on Mars

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 23:20:56 PST

With a press conference earlier today, NASA announced that not only did the red planet have water, but in fact may have vast flowing repositories of the all important compound in vast quantities beneath the permafrost. The announcement has already prompted questions about the potential for life on the red planet. How is our image of Mars as a cold dead barren world gradually changing with each new discovery? And what might this mean for future space exploration?

Moon Hosts Surprising Abundance of Water - More Than Previously Thought

Tue, 31 May 2011 23:19:39 PST

When it was first discovered that the Lunar surface had water spread throughout it, scientists were baffled, but nowhere near as interested or as confused as now when theories are beginning to suggest the Moon may have as much water as Earth proportionally. What would a Lunar surface rich in much needed water mean for future exploration?

Would You Venture Into Space?

Tue, 31 May 2011 23:16:03 PST

Itâ€™s a shocking question that ten years ago could only be asked to billionaires with connections to the Russian Space Program. But as space tourism grows as an industry and the next generation of space planes and rockets designed to propel tourists into space, the question is finally one that is being tabled to a larger group of adventurers intent on enjoying those first few moments of weightlessness among the stars. And projections for the future suggest the future of space tourism may one day within our lifetimes affordable for anyone for approximately the same price as a plane ticket around the world. But as more people venture into space, will humanity rekindle its interest in traveling to other planets?

Why Mars Would Win an Earth/Mars Colony Conflict

Fri, 13 May 2011 23:30:06 PST

As we look into the possibility of humans one day approaching Mars and even colonizing there, a strange parallel begins to unfold. In many ways the settling of Mars would be similar to the settling of New World after Columbus first landed at Plymouth Rock. And if the parallels were to continue, soon the whole of Earth may find itself in a long drawn out conflict with the human settled red planet. But how could a small group of settlers ever hope to repel forces from Earth? The answer is surprisingly simple.

Mysterious Gargoyle Face Discovered on Mars

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:28:41 PST

A mysterious picture proclaiming to show a demonic face on the surface of Mars harkens back to the mid 90's when the red planet's first martian face hit the media full force. This latest find, discovered by researchers looking over data from the European Space Agency Portal. But is this the real deal? Clever Fakery? Or are there just too many variables here to really tell?

Drugs Would Lose Effectiveness During Mars Trip

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 23:02:07 PST

Certain drugs don't work while on extended missions in space, a recent study by scientists from the Johnson Space Center publishing to the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. The study suggests that certain drugs do not keep well on the shelf when exposed to the weightlessness of space. The study also suggests alternative treatments may be necessary if Astronauts are to head up on the long Journey toward Mars.

NASA Scientist Discovers Life Fossils in Meteorite

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:02:50 PST

An incredible discovery from a scientist working at NASA has resulted in some very unprecedented levels of scrutiny and quite possibly the first absolute proof through official channels that we may not be alone in the universe. Dr. Richard Hoover recently published his findings in the Journal of Cosmology and says for the first time we are living in a world where life beyond our own planet has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. And not only that, but life may be far more prolific than we ever before suspected.

Nautilus: Not a Bad Way to Mars

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 23:14:21 PST

NASA has proposed a new vessel for long term deep space exploration that would exist more like a space station than a simple space capsule like the Orion ship. And with a Mars mission on everyone's mind the real question in the world of 2011 is inevitably, "How much will it cost?" But NASA aims to build a space station that will not only take humans to Mars, but do so in a reasonably cost effective way. And if that claim doesn't have enough weight to it, NASA proposes the ship will have a rotating centrifuge giving astronauts artificial gravity.

Are there Lights on Mars?

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 05:48:19 PST

The red planet has long been one of the core bodies of speculation in regards to the prospect of life on other planets. And some researchers have said - perhaps with a note of alarm - that this speculation has a long and rich history reaching back hundreds of years. But the rampant speculation never reached a more fevered pitch than at the turn of the century when Nikola Tesla, famed inventor of Alternating Current and others noted strange emanations coming from the planet's surface.

How Sci fi Shaped Exploration and Vice Versa

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:23:44 PST

Few ideas are nearly as tempting as setting foot on an alien planet that can be both explored and even brought to life by technology. And as the genre of science fiction has progressed, so have our ideas of what interstellar travel and (perhaps more importantly) planetary exploration would be like. And those planets, as time has shown, have proven to be anything but static lifeless bodies rolling through space. The planets themselves just as the stories about them have changed dramatically over time even if a few specific elements remain the same.