Life on Mars

A few thoughts on why this is causing such a stir:

1. Lack Of Evidence To the Contrary: If NASA knows that what we see here is nothing more than a rock formation, why haven’t they released more recent photos of the same location to prove the humanoid form hasn’t moved since the original shot was taken? And why did their experts fail to examine the photo more closely (read, devote months to its study) before firmly informing the world that there’s nothing unusual about this? I find this curious…

2. Sudden Appearance: NASA gave no indication, at any point prior to the release of this photo, that they had found something highly unusual. You’d think they’d have held a press conference to inform the public PRIOR to the shot’s release (including a segment explaining what exactly we are seeing, if not a life form) but that wasn’t the case. This makes me believe that the photo’s emergence is due to a leak from within NASA’s own ranks…a leak which they are now desperately trying to get back under control. This seriously causes me to wonder about the photo’s authenticity.

3. Life On Mars Is Not Possible: Hmm. Isn’t it? We know by now that there is a good chance that life did exist on Mars, albeit a very long time ago. We also know that there was, and still is, a small amount of H2O on its surface, especially at its North Pole. Indeed, scientists believe there may be liquid water on the planet’s surface even today, although this water would freeze soon after emerging from underground due to Mars’ punishing surface temperatures. So, on Mars, we have light, water, nitrogen, and a small amount of oxygen - the basic building blocks of life as we know it. But that’s all pure science…what about adding belief and keeping an open mind? Is it not possible that there are life forms in the cosmos which do not require the same living conditions as human beings do? Experts would likely say no, immediately, but I beg to differ. I think it is entirely possible, and here is why – even on our very own planet, what allows one thing to live is deadly to another. A fish will die if it isn’t in water. Human beings will die if they remain underwater. Plants (and some marine life) need CO2 and light energy to survive. Human beings need oxygen and light energy. While these processes are obviously much more involved, as well as intertwined, my point is simply that, if we can have such wondrous variation here, in this one tiny corner of the universe, why can there not be places and beings somewhere out there which would challenge everything we know about physics and chemistry? Egads, we just may not know everything. Why is this such a distressing and difficult thing to grasp?

4. But The Bible/Quran/Torah Says: I’m not sure what these books have to say about life on other planets, to be honest, but I do know that the fantatically religious are absolutely freaking out about all of this. My only thought here is this: If God is truly almighty, all-powerful, and all-knowing (which I do believe He is), why would He create an entire universe, the size and complexities of which we cannot even begin to grasp, to populate just one little planet in a not-so-very-large galaxy? Seems like an awful waste of space and talent to me…:-)

5. Skeptics Versus Believers: That skeptics love, love, love to argue is a given. The same holds true for believers, of course, especially those of the out-there variety. The trouble here isn’t that people’s opinions are divided, but that each group uses whatever they can get their little claws on to tear each other apart. This picture has given both parties a new excuse to rip each other to shreds, and they’re using it with glee. Where is the humanity in this? Why can’t we sit back, talk things out respectfully, offer our individual viewpoints, and then leave well enough alone? A skeptic rarely relinquishes his or her point because of the angry rantings of a believer, and a believer is usually far too deply immersed in whatever topic is up for discussion to look upon the skeptic with anything more than contempt or even pity. So what’s the point in arguing, I ask? Keep your beliefs, and let others keep theirs. Why turn this into a massive controversy? Instead, maybe we could all try to marvel, for just a moment, at this awesomely unsual photo. If you believe the shot depicts an alien life form, good for you! I am leaning toward that conclusion myself. If you believe, however, that what you see is nothing more than a rock…marvel, too! It’s a rock shaped like a human being…on MARS! Isn’t creation wonderful?

~ by zenfoxeleven on January 25, 2008.