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Scientists Say that Mars is 'Covered in Table Salt'

news.bbc.co.uk — Mars appears to be covered in salt crystals from ancient dried-up lakes, new evidence suggests. A Nasa probe has found signs that the southern hemisphere is dusted with chloride mineral, perhaps "table salt". US scientists think the mineral formed when water evaporated from salty lakes or soil billions of years ago.

Who dugg this? Made popular Mar 21, 2008

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  • ubernoggin, on 03/21/2008, -3/+86The northern hemisphere is covered in pepper.
  • BigManOnCampus, on 03/21/2008, -0/+58Then we can be sure there are no slug-like creatures on Mars.
  • lpmiller, on 03/21/2008, -3/+50Mars, the condiment planet.
  • Accolade1, on 03/21/2008, -0/+40"No thanks, I prefer Mars salt please."
  • fluidfoundation, on 03/21/2008, -0/+27If Mars' oceans are made of Margaritas, then we're set! No need to explore beyond mars.
  • daivos, on 03/21/2008, -2/+24No, but they do have high blood pressure.
  • allowners, on 03/21/2008, -1/+22Much like the roads around where I live until spring breaks.
  • goldmineguttd, on 03/21/2008, -3/+22I hope it's bacon salt.
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -1/+18..or maybe we should be worrying about slug-like creatures who are very angry
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -5/+22I hear one of the bigger craters is filled with beer
  • Otto, on 03/21/2008, -1/+17All we need to find now is a pretzel mine, and we're set for the party.
  • noahhoward, on 03/21/2008, -1/+15No, no, no. Mars is red therefore is is clearly Lawrys Seasoned Salt.
  • sockpuppets, on 03/21/2008, -1/+15Mustard eruption! RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIVES!
  • BigManOnCampus, on 03/21/2008, -1/+15..or maybe Mars was specifically colonized with slug-like creatures in the past, and they killed themselves in a global war with salt-bombs from space.
  • sockpuppets, on 03/21/2008, -1/+14Thus the legend of Sneezy McMarsface was born. Cursed to roam the northern craters until mars is recolonized.
  • RogerStrong, on 03/21/2008, -0/+12Hopefully, into permafrost.

    But Mars has also loses more of it's atmosphere to space than Earth, due to lower gravity and less (if any) volcanic activity to refresh it.
  • monospaced, on 03/21/2008, -1/+11I'd be more concerned with the hell-like temperatures and complete lack of atmosphere.
  • fluidfoundation, on 03/21/2008, -1/+11PIGS IN SPACE!!!!!!
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -0/+10He who controls the Spice Girls, Controls the Universe!
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -0/+10Plus it has no magnetic field.
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -3/+11Where has the water gone to?
  • RogerStrong, on 03/21/2008, -1/+8I certainly makes it more difficult. But like earth, Mars isn't one climate or geology all over. I'd be very surprised if we didn't find areas with less salt - especially if you get away from what may have once been a ocean bottom.
  • doctechnical, on 03/21/2008, -1/+8Someone inform Alton Brown...
  • EntropyGun, on 03/21/2008, -1/+8Looks more like Mars is made of paprika to me.
  • sockpuppets, on 03/21/2008, -1/+8I never really try. My participation here is just boredom, if I had to have every comment be a "win" I'd get a second job writing instead. :)
  • Hobolord, on 03/21/2008, -0/+6Whoever controls a thing, can destroy a thing.

    The salt must flow
  • ebcreasoner, on 03/21/2008, -0/+6Where did the oxygen go? Take a look at Mars. What color do you see? Red, right? What chemical is most likely to cause a red hue? Iron oxide, rust. At least there is your oxygen.

    Of course, that brings the question, where did the hydrogen go?
  • GorfTron, on 03/21/2008, -0/+6A future prison colony for hyper-intelligent slug criminals.
  • elliotys, on 03/21/2008, -0/+6This just in, martians suffer from terrible hypertension.
  • grexeo, on 03/21/2008, -0/+5"Table salt"? In other news, NASA budget cuts...
  • lndmn01, on 03/21/2008, -0/+5Where did the Hydrogen go? Take a look at Mars. Do you see it floating in space? Weightless, right? What chemical is likely to be lighter than air? Hydrogen, Hydrogen. At least there is your hydrogen.

    Of course, that brings the question, who filled the planet with the hydrogen?
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -0/+4Hint: Martian.
  • manitoba98xp, on 03/21/2008, -0/+4Sodium chloride. I think the term "table salt" was used for the laymen who never learned much chemistry.
  • RogerStrong, on 03/21/2008, -0/+4Man will never penetrate outer space.
    - Albran, August 1942

    Man will never penetrate outer space without a rocket.
    - Albran, August 1962
  • noseeme, on 03/21/2008, -0/+4For our elderly consumers, may I recommend Mars Low Sodium edition?
  • ebcreasoner, on 03/21/2008, -1/+4Stephen King!
  • Llanowar, on 03/21/2008, -2/+5We're not some stupid forum here, signatures/ending with your name/nickname is lame...
  • MrGiblets, on 03/21/2008, -0/+3Fact: you can grow beets on the salty surface of Mars.
  • jonathantneal, on 03/21/2008, -1/+4Who filled the planet with the hydrogen? Take a look at Mars. Do you see how much it looks like the red nose of a circus clown? What chemical is likely to be used by clowns to keep their balloons floating? Helium, Helium. At least there is your hydrogen.

    Of course, that brings the question, who sent in the clowns?
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -0/+3After viewing your profile, I see that you have a bad habit spamming Digg articles with your money secret links. Good luck with that, you're sure to make lots of friends that way.
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -5/+8I will make a prediction. Humans will NEVER colonize mars. Not now, not a 100, 1000 or 10,000 years from now. Not ever. Also, no one reading this post will live to see a human walk on Mars.
  • ebcreasoner, on 03/21/2008, -0/+3Water is used in the rusting of iron. Doesn't salt speed up the reaction?
  • say592, on 03/21/2008, -0/+3A good question.

    I would imagine its all frozen somewhere, or a chemical reaction has occurred causing it to separate into hydrogen and oxygen.

    Of course, that brings about the question, where did the oxygen go.
  • chrisduser, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Dugg, because I want to believe.
  • somespecial, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Who's paying these scientists? Oh, yeah, our government. Did they graduate high school? Not all salt is derived from oceans. Other sources of salts escape from the crust though volcanic vents or originated in the atmosphere.
  • vertinox, on 03/22/2008, -0/+2The current theory is that Mars molten core cooled into a solid which means it no longer has a magnetic field protecting it from solar winds which stripped the atmosphere over millions of years.
  • petebot, on 03/21/2008, -1/+3Why can't scientists say that Mars is covered in oil? The governments of the world would certainly work harder on colonizing it sometime in my lifetime.
  • inactive, on 03/21/2008, -0/+2Of course it is. The Martians prefer to salt their meat, and eat the heads first.
    http://www.marsanomalyresearch.com/evidence-report ...
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