For the first time, scientists have confirmed the existence of liquid water flowing on the surface of Mars, bringing about the question again of whether or not the planet is capable of sustaining life, the New York Times reported on Sept. 28.
The New York Times also reported, "Researchers studying the surface of Mars have noticed thousands of dark streaks appearing on canyon walls and hillsides during Martian summer months. Now they have found definitive evidence of salty liquid water flowing within some of these seasonal streaks.”
James L. Green, the director of NASA’s planetary science division, told The New York Times, "This is tremendously exciting. We haven’t been able to answer the question, ‘Does life exist beyond Earth?’ But following the water is a critical element of that. We now have, I think, great opportunities in the right locations on Mars to thoroughly investigate that.”
Stephen Kempler, a senior studying informational technologies from California, said, "Yeah there was probably life on Mars at one point. I think it's lame that they are trying to go to Mars. Why don’t they first try fixing some of the problems here on Earth before they try going to another planet?”
Garlyn Ngirchemat, a senior from Palau studying international cultural studies, said, "It’s shocking that they found water flowing on Mars. I think it's cool. It’s an opportunity for people to be able to do some scientific research on the subject. Maybe it is possible that there once was life on Mars. Finding the flowing water is a small step to answering some of those questions.”
However, Ngirchemat said that more research should be done about the environment of Mars before sending people out to investigate.
The New York Times reported that liquid water is “considered one of the essential ingredients for life.” The presence of flowing water raises questions about whether or not there could be small pockets of life on Mars, which seems to be dry and barren, reported The New York Times.
Yasu Li Tsz Kin, a senior from Hong Kong studying ICS, said, “For me, if they can find some resources on Mars that could help back here on Earth, then I think it would be a good thing. I think it is definitely possible that there could have been some form of life on Mars.”
The New York Times reported this discovery of flowing water on Mars could lead to people living on Mars sooner than later. A Dutch nonprofit venture called Mars One is looking to permanently settle Mars, beginning with four people slated to be sent there by 2026.
In the United States, the nonprofit Inspiration One has plans for a two-person team to fly within 100 miles of the planet, launching from Earth in Jan. 2018, according to the New York Times.