[Kosh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7477310.stm

Martian soil appears to contain sufficient nutrients to support life - or, at least, asparagus - Nasa scientists believe.

Preliminary analysis by the $420m (£210m) Phoenix Mars Lander mission on the planet's soil found it to be much more alkaline than expected.

Scientists working on the spacecraft project said they were "flabbergasted" by the discovery.

The find has raised hopes conditions on Mars may be favourable for life.

"We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life, whether past, present or future," said Sam Kounaves, the project's lead chemist, from the University of Arizona.

Why wasn't this posted earlier? This is one of the most important discoveries related to mars.

[Blue Lion]

Now if only my backyard can do the same 

[Stormkeeper]

... Starsiege, here we come.

[WMCoolmon]

Sweet. Can't wait 'til we're landing missions on mars to grow Asparagus...

...and then the Asparagus will take over, grow all over the planet, and wipe out any evidence or existence of indigent life on the planet, just like in Isaac Asimov's Elijah Baley mysteries.

[terran_emperor]

Asparagus and Brocoli are originally from another planet and were imported by aliens many thousands of years ago

[WMCoolmon]

Asparagus and Brocoli are originally from another planet and were imported by aliens many thousands of years ago

Friggin' Mercora...

[Stormkeeper]

Friggin' Mercora...

I'm glad the Animorphs blew them off the face of the Earth.

[NGTM-1R]

... Starsiege, here we come.

I hearby dub you "Duster"

[nubbles526]

Reminds me of INFA....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7477310.stm

Martian soil appears to contain sufficient nutrients to support life - or, at least, asparagus - Nasa scientists believe.

Preliminary analysis by the $420m (£210m) Phoenix Mars Lander mission on the planet's soil found it to be much more alkaline than expected.

Scientists working on the spacecraft project said they were "flabbergasted" by the discovery.

The find has raised hopes conditions on Mars may be favourable for life.

"We basically have found what appears to be the requirements, the nutrients, to support life, whether past, present or future," said Sam Kounaves, the project's lead chemist, from the University of Arizona.

Why wasn't this posted earlier? This is one of the most important discoveries related to mars.

$420m to buld that space thing? Man....just imagine just building the spacecraft needed to TRANSPORT the Asparagus seed to Mars.

Alkali? Oh I see....so basically we should add Martian Soil into our bleaching agents, washing agents etc.

[Hellstryker]

You know, don't you find it odd, with rich soil, and all that Co2 that theres not one blade of grass up there? 
And since mars once had liquid water, it almost certainly once supported life...

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Wasn't there a recent theory about a huge impact on mars?  If so maybe it destroyed the atmosphere and covered all eveidence of life under dust.  Without the necessary atmosphere what life remains just hasn't adapted enough to return to the surface. 

[Hellstryker]

That's the stupiest theory i've ever heard. By that same theory we shouldn't be here right now 

[terran_emperor]

Friggin' Mercora...

I'm glad the Animorphs blew them off the face of the Earth.

Nice to see im not the only Animorphs fan on HLP....

[FUBAR-BDHR]

That's the stupiest theory i've ever heard. By that same theory we shouldn't be here right now 

The dinosaurs aren't and Earth still has it's atmosphere and liquid water.  It may have been easier for life to adapt to underground conditions then return to the surface. 

[Fenrir]

Oh man, I remember that Animorphs stuff. Good times, those were...

[terran_emperor]

Hell yes...

Silly idea for a FS mod that will NEVER be made:
If we can get it together and draw some consistant concept art and find some capable modelers, then we could make an Animorphs TC...

But that will NEVER happen...EVER

[Fenrir]

I`d play it...

But it won`t happen.

[terran_emperor]

It just one of those things taht would be cool to play but will never happen

[Unknown Target]

Hell yes...

Silly idea for a FS mod that will NEVER be made:
If we can get it together and draw some consistant concept art and find some capable modelers, then we could make an Animorphs TC...

But that will NEVER happen...EVER

Jesus. Christ. I've kept my mouth shut, but GUYS. NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO DO WITH FREESPACE 2!!!!! Jesus, it's like every thread I go into it's "That was an excellent movie, I applaud the director's vision" and five posts down it's "OMG IT WOULD BE SO MUCH BETTER IF THE SHIVANS WERE IN IT LOL !!!!". Just STOP. Goddamn.

[Kosh]

Wasn't there a recent theory about a huge impact on mars?  If so maybe it destroyed the atmosphere and covered all eveidence of life under dust.  Without the necessary atmosphere what life remains just hasn't adapted enough to return to the surface. 

I think the most likely explanation  is that it's core became cold and just......stopped. This explains why mars' magnetic field is almost non-existent.