Now We Know Why Martians Are So Mad...

So today at lunch I was catching up on some news feeds on my phone.  And I happened by an article from CBS News entitled: "NASA crosses fingers that Mars rover won't find water".  And this caught my attention.  From a very young age, I have always been intrigued by space and the concept of space travel/exploration.  Which opened the gateway to my love of science fiction.  And now that a lot of science fiction is becoming less "fiction" and more science, I just had to read this story.  Feel free to click here and read it yourself : CBS News

In case you didn't read the article, here is a quick one shot of it.  NASA recently dropped a rover on Mars (aka Curiosity).  One of the goal's of the Curiosity rover mission is to further the exploration of the surface of Mars in attempt to find any signs of life (be it ancient or otherwise).  Most people immediately think of little green men wearing glass bubbles on their heads and carrying laser guns.  However, they are looking for any life; meaning microscopic or previous planet tenants.  Part of the Curiosity rover's mission includes it being equipped with a drill and sets of drill bits.  These bits (per the article) were intended to be sealed in a box which the rover would open after landing on the planet's surface.  But for fear of possibly damaging this equipment, a bit was attached to the rover before take off.

Supposedly, this installation opened the possibility of bacteria from Earth coming into contact with Curiosity's  hardware.  What does this mean?  Easy, we could potentially contaminate whatever ecosystem may be viable on Mars with our germs.  Well, that's just fantastic.  Those folks are NASA are pretty sharp (very smart, without a doubt); but to think that something like this was allowed to happen just seems crazy to me.  So knowing that there is a possibility that Curiosity may be carrying bacteria from Earth, NASA is apparently very concerned about "bumping" Curiosity into any water up there Mars.  As contaminating a water supply could be disastrous.

And here is why I find this story so perplexing.  Every one of these missions are extremely expensive.  Knowing the possibility that amazing discoveries could be unlocked via this mission, why would NASA not ensure that this type of contamination was not even a possibility.  Now before you flame me, I understand the undertaking of "space sterilizing" equipment built on Earth may be difficult etc.  This seems like a very basic concern to me (a very non-technical, simple mind).  I will give them the benefit of a doubt, as the article explains that the majority of this bacteria should have been killed during the entry into the Martian atmosphere.  But still, think ahead guys.

So as I sat at Burger King and ate my lunch, I got a great idea for a scene for the Big Bang Theory.  If you remember a previous episode ("The Lizard Spock Expansion" Season: 2 Episode: 8) where Howard Wolowitz accidentally got the Mars rover stuck in a ditch?  Well, why not an episode where Wolowitz gets an intership to help build the new Mars rover and they day he shows up to work, he sneezes on the rover just before launch.  And without time to cleanse the rover, it is blasted off towards Mars carrying what could potentially wipe out any life the would find?  Just a thought.

And then I had another thought.  Remember the whole thing about the Pilgrim's giving small-pox ridden blankets to the Native Americans?  Yep, know we know why all the Martians in the Hollywood movies are so mad.  Our germs wiped out their planet...

Just some of my random thoughts about germs, Mars, rover missions, and possible tv episodes... Enjoy!

Read the article at: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57509428/nasa-crosses-fingers-that-mars-rover-wont-find-water/