It may have been Mars or Return to Mars by Ben Bova that looked in the lava tubes and found life. I can't see how caves would form in Gusev, it's so flat and no way to form lava tubes. Still he deserves credit for picking Gusev as it turned out to be a Rover landing site.
If there were caves there though in that fairly ice rich soil it would be interesting how close it got to being liquid water, especially if the cave was sealed. Brine can stay liquid well below the temperature of pure water.
The ground would have had deep cracks from the original impact which may have then been sealed above by erosion and dust deposition. So I suppose there could be cavities under the ground at Gusev. Benford usually gets his science right so he may have looked into the idea of caves there and found some possibile ways they could form.
He may have been thinking of caves formed by ancient running water though, which seems unlikely so far. I don't think the hematite was found when he wrote the book but water formed hematite may imply some caves as well.
Space/Science » in reply to Benfords steam caves and bugs were in Gusev...
re: Benfords steam caves and bugs were in Gusev...
The whole thread (51 posts)
- Will Life Be Found On Mars? Your opinions and guesses:
- Dear friends, thanks for the vigorous discussion. I love it when I start a thread and there are many differing responses. David. (n/t)
- hmmm
- The Martian Race by Greg Benford
- For former life, I'd bet on Venus first
- 50-50
- Yes
- Well
- I follow Lovelock: Equilibrium = Death
- Possibly extremophiles under the surface
- re: Will Life Be Found On Mars? Your opinions and guesses: