Ologies with Alie Ward – Smologies #27: MARS with Jennifer Buz

Intro

In this episode of “Ologies with Alie Ward,” Alie Ward interviews Dr. Jennifer Buz about Mars. They discuss the origin of Mars’ name, its size and gravity, its atmosphere and water, recent discoveries, the Curiosity rover, potential signs of past life, and the challenges of terraforming Mars. They also touch on the Small Ages podcast, which explores the history of childhood. Dr. Jennifer Buz’s website features self-portraits of her as a turtle with octopus hair.

Main Takeaways

Mars Facts

• Mars is named after the God of War due to its red color caused by iron in the soil.
• Aries means study of Mars in Greek mythology.
• Mars is half the size of Earth and has roughly one-third the gravity.
• Mars has a thin atmosphere but had a thicker atmosphere in the past with water.
• Mars used to have streams, lakes, and a magnetic field, which has since died due to its smaller size and lack of iron in the core.
• Mars has two small moons, Phobos and Demos, which may have been captured asteroids or formed from a dust cloud left over from a giant impact.
• Mars lost its atmosphere and water due to its smaller size and lack of magnetic field, which couldn’t protect it from atmospheric loss processes.

Recent Discoveries and Rovers

• The Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater, which may have been a lake in the past and is now filled with wind-wipped debris taller than Mount Rainier.
• The layers in Gale Crater may contain signs of past life or organisms, making it an important area of study for scientists.
• The landing site for the 2020 Mars mission is down to three possible sites, all of which show evidence of past life.
• Mars was probably habitable in its early history, but any potential life would have been in small amounts and likely lonely.
• The recent announcement revealed the discovery of molecules that are building blocks of life, which were found by the Curiosity rover and are exciting because they were fresh-looking and hard to preserve.

Terraforming Challenges

• Biggest hurdles for terraforming are lack of water and oxygen in the atmosphere, thin atmosphere, and radiation.
• Extreme files, such as cyanobacteria, are the most likely type of bacteria to be found on Mars.
• Microfossils of magnetic tactic bacteria were found in a meteorite, and it’s possible they could have used Mars’ magnetic field.
• The color of the sky on Mars is like a butterscotch color due to iron-rich dust in the atmosphere.
• Mars used to be wet and had lush pools and spas, which many people don’t know.
• NASA’s data on Mars is publicly available, and there are many ways for people to get involved with Mars stuff, including seminars, books, and podcasts.

The Small Ages Podcast

• The Small Ages podcast is classroom-safe and features experts on various topics.
• The Small Ages podcast explores history through a lens of childhood and youth.
• Childhood is not a fixed concept and has varied throughout history and across cultures.
• The podcast features experts who share their knowledge on a range of topics, such as child labor and education.
• Understanding the history of childhood can provide insight into current issues affecting children today.
• “It’s really through the lens of children that we can understand a lot of the broader changes that are happening in society.” – Dr. Sarah Knott, host of The Small Ages podcast.

Summary

Mars: The Red Planet

Mars, named after the God of War, is known for its red color caused by iron in the soil. It is half the size of Earth and has roughly one-third the gravity. Mars has a thin atmosphere, but in the past, it had a thicker atmosphere with water, streams, lakes, and a magnetic field. However, due to its smaller size and lack of iron in the core, Mars lost its atmosphere and water. The Curiosity rover, which landed in Gale Crater, has discovered layers that may contain signs of past life or organisms. The recent discovery of molecules that are building blocks of life excites scientists because they were fresh-looking and hard to preserve. Terraforming Mars faces challenges such as the lack of water and oxygen in the atmosphere, thin atmosphere, and radiation. The Small Ages podcast explores the history of childhood and provides insight into current issues affecting children today.

Mars: The Potential for Life

Mars was probably habitable in its early history, but any potential life would have been in small amounts and likely lonely. The landing site for the 2020 Mars mission is down to three possible sites, all showing evidence of past life. Extreme files, such as cyanobacteria, are the most likely type of bacteria to be found on Mars. Microfossils of magnetic tactic bacteria found in a meteorite suggest they could have used Mars’ magnetic field. The color of the sky on Mars is like butterscotch due to iron-rich dust in the atmosphere. Mars used to be wet and had lush pools and spas, which is lesser-known. NASA’s data on Mars is publicly available, and there are various ways for people to get involved, including seminars, books, and podcasts.

Conclusion

Mars, the red planet, holds many mysteries and potential for scientific discoveries. From its past with flowing water and a magnetic field to the recent findings by the Curiosity rover, Mars continues to captivate our imagination. While terraforming poses significant challenges, scientists remain optimistic about the potential for life on Mars. The Small Ages podcast provides valuable insights into the history of childhood and its impact on society. Exploring Mars and understanding the history of childhood offer unique perspectives on our world and the possibilities that lie beyond.