A view from NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity shows part of "Marathon Valley," a destination on the western rim of Endeavour Crater on the planet Mars
© NASA / Reuters
US VP Mike Pence boldly hopes to put “American boots on the face of Mars” – but it's unlikely the troops will be staying there long, if a new study on the Red Planet is accurate.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found Mars is less habitable than previously thought, in a study published in Scientific Reports.
That makes the dream of realizing Matt Damon’s Martian potato farm (or any vegetable for that matter) even less unlikely.
RT: Mars attacks: Red planet pioneers will face crop-killer soil poison
In fact, the report didn't say anything of that nature since it was only about chemicals which are in the soil due to UV bombardment because of the lack of atmosphere.
The study found perchlorates in Mars’ soil turned toxic when exposed to the harsh UV light radiation found on the Red Planet. That destroys any bacteria, making it extremely difficult for any living thing to survival.
"You need to flush out the perchlorates and then you can grow vegetables," said David Wilson, from NASA’s Planetary Science and Astrobiology division.
...
The presence of toxic compounds in Martian soil, called perchlorates, is nothing new to scientists. However, this study found other Mars-based compounds such as iron oxides and hydrogen peroxide, merely exacerbated the perchlorates’ toxicity.
- RT
Referring back up to the top and the anonymous comment that Mars is less habitable than previously thought, that one is just bloody rubbish since it isn't habitable now.
The good news is Mike Pence wants to ensure American troops go to Mars and presumably to ensure it's never habitable by anyone.
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