Why does water on Mars matter?

Question

So, I have honestly not been able to understand why there is all this hubbub about there being water on Mars. The news sources that I've been reading imply from time to time that this means that life on Mars possibly exists just because we have found water.

I don't get that because I don't understad why scientists assume that water is necessary for life. This seems like a HUGE assumption to me, if not stupid or arrogant (although I might be the stupid one here, admittedly)

Maybe water on mars would be a good thing to have if we were going to establish a martian base so we wouldn't have to bring along water or the hydrogen and oxygen necessary to make it, but other than that, I just don't understand what the big deal is.

I kind of get the feeling that the billions of dollars we pay in taxes could be better spent elswhere, but prove me wrong, please.

Answer 1

In the "search" for life on other planets in the solar system-- water is required as an indication that life as we know it, might be possible.

Life-- at least our understanding of life, requires water to be available.

Answer 2

because water is a key factor for life so there might be life on mars but only in the form of small bacteria so now we all now earth is not the only planet that can have life

Answer 3

Water is necessary for life. Visiting Mars isn't necessary or reasonable.  Granted the presence of water there makes it possible to colonize if we had considerably better technology.  But we don't.  Attempting to live on Mars now would be signing the death warrant for anyone attempting such a folly.  If you absolutely must kill astronauts, why not hit them in the head with a hammer?  Its much cheaper and more humane, and just as effective.  Compare the two: death by freezing, hunger, and oxygen loss due to a faulty component. Or a quick blow on the head.  I know which one I'd choose.

    

There simply is no value to colonizing Mars.  It would be a constant economic drain.  Mars could never produce anything that could be sold on Earth for a profit.  Potential Profit is what drives colonization.  

Answer 4

why does ne thing on ne thing matter. why cant we just live our lives here on earth, and not worry about life on other planets. we need less astrophysicist in this time, and more philosphers. this world is getting more messed up each day the clock ticks.  

Answer 5

Because everything needs water to live. So if there is water on Mars they think there can be life on mars.

Even though there might be water on Mars, I think that there can't be life on Mars. Plus nobody was able to reach it.

Answer 6

Don't let the coming 4th Reich known as the New World Order manipulate you.

They're staging for "Project Bluebeam".

'Aliens' just in time for 2012! Supposedly, different Type III civilization 'ETs' fighting amongst themselves for our sakes.  Some are friendly and have supposedly taught us things in return for microchipped people to take back to their slave camps. Type III civilizations are said to use all the power of galaxies including stars, planets, density waves, and even blackholes and will try to explain why some worship this symbol:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

http://www.psychophil.com/weblog/wp-cont...

They are already doing pretend battles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrO8055LQ...

We should have known earlier:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9LyxiVVZ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_s...

Many will be fooled...

Answer 7

water=life

life=aliens

ALIENS!

Answer 8

Water is symbolic for life. The presence for water or ice basically means that conditions are more favorable and improve the possibility of the developement of life. It doesn't mean it could happen; who knows, it could've already happen, is happening, will happen, or will never take place. Water is a key element. But because it is in the form of a solid (ice), obviously the conditions aren't very habitable. If the water was a liquid, in which where it is not too cold and not too hot, the chances of life are higher.

Answer 9

It could be ammonia or liquid methane but liquid methane would be very cold and reactions would be very slow.  The presence of water means that  the life could be similar to us, and that is scientifically interesting.

Have you ever noticed that whales have the bones for 5 fingers in their fins ??  The presence of 5 digits or the bones for them is very widespread in animals. Life on Earth is based on right hand twisted protein spirals "dexatory" and left hand twisted catalysts and activity modifiers "levatory". We have already found Levatory proteins in meteor samples i.e. they didn't come from here.

Answer 10

We know for a fact that life as we know it depends on water. It would only be speculation that life could utilize other means of molecular interaction. Nobody is saying that water is the only medium, only that it is the only one we have proof for. That is why it is such a big deal on Mars. That means that life like us could have evolved or could survive on Mars.

Our main goal is to determine whether Mars would be a suitable place for humans. Either for exploration, as a base or even colonization.

Another important reason to expend our resources on Mars exploration is that everything we learn about distant planets allows us to understand more about our origins. Humans are infinitely curious, and it is only natural for us to exploit new technology to learn about the universe. Eventually, we will be able to explore distant galaxies. The information gained will be invaluable and may even solve the question of life. Mars is simply a stepping stone.

Answer 11

Finding water on Mars is a milestone in the NASA space program. Water is a building block for life, meaning in order to have organic material in the first place.

As far as we know water must be present to have any primitive form of life.

Answer 12

Water dissolves stuff, and it's chemically neutral too. Hence it's able to carry vital molecules to where they're needed. Life can exist without oxygen, but it can't exist without water.