Life of Mars?

Case Introduction
Welcome, detectives! Everything you need to get started in your investigation is at your fingertips! Click the links below to learn the problem situation, your role, and the criteria for the case. Be sure to review the steps in the problem-solving process!

Here's the Situation!
You are an astrobiologist. NASA needs your help in better understanding what types of life they should look for when the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) explores the surface of Mars in the future. A team of scientists from NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) has asked you to help them by first reviewing research articles and then creating a life-form with features that might allow it to survive on Mars.

Plans are already underway for future missions to Mars to gain a better understanding of the Red Planet and its extreme environment. In preparation for those missions, scientists are studying extreme environments here on Earth. They have found that life-forms exist in extreme environments such as the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park where they've found some very small bacteria living in conditions where the pH level is very acidic and temperatures exceed 65º Celsius. Life-forms have also been found thriving where volcanic heat and water interact here on Earth. The organisms living in these extreme environments are called extremophile. These and other findings have led scientists to believe there is a possibility that life may exist on the ancient volcanic terrain of Mars.

You have been asked to support the JSC scientists in their research. The committee has arranged for the use of a laboratory and a state-of-the-art library, complete with internet connections. You are to work with other scientists to help NASA better understand what types of life they should look for on Mars.

An astrobiologist is one who seeks to understand the origin of the building blocks of life, how compounds combine to create life, how life affects and is affected by the environment from which it came, and if and how life expands beyond its origin. As an astrobiologist, it will be your role to integrate information collected from the fields of chemistry, geology, astronomy, planetary science, paleontology, oceanography, physics, biology, and mathematics.

For this project, your duties include these:

• working with other scientists and engineers to collect information
• keeping a log or record of all work and ideas
• conducting research on extreme environments on Earth
• conducting research on adaptations made by life-forms on Earth
• conducting research on the planet Mars
• conducting research on known life-forms from the planet Mars

Your Role in the Case!
Use your knowledge of Mars and living organisms to create a life-form (plant or animal) that has features that will enable it to survive in the extreme environment on Mars. Keep the following criteria in mind!

• Take into consideration the findings of the various fields of science.
• Develop a plan of action.
• Keep a journal that includes investigation questions, important issues, and resources in the Problem Log provided.
• Produce a final report that informs the Johnson Space Center team and NASA scientists and engineers of possible life-forms that could exists on Mars.

The Criteria for the Case
NASA has collected resources to help you get started in your investigation, and JSC has some recommendations listed below that will help guide your investigation.

• Determine what type of environment exists on Mars.
• Choose a habitat in the Mars environment for the organism to live and then write a description of the habitat, identifying the conditions under which the organism might live.
• Identify what characteristics an organism would need to survive in the harsh Mars environment.