An historic announcement on Dec 3

[bibblebub]

http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/nasa-makes-mars-discovery-for-the-history-books-1114544

Scientists studying data collected by the rover's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instruments have apparently made a major find on the planet... <br/> <br/> ...lead investigator John Grotzinger described the find as &quot;one for the history books&quot; <br/> <br/> Scientists are now double-checking samples of rock and soil ahead of the big announcement set for December 3.

What might it be? An anticlimax?

[bibblebub]

If italics had worked it would have been these sections of the article:-

Scientists studying data collected by the rover's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instruments have apparently made a major find on the plane...

...lead investigator John Grotzinger described the find as "one for the history books".

Scientists are now double-checking samples of rock and soil ahead of the big announcement set for December 3.

[shooty]

I wouldn't have thought so if it's 'one for the history books'.
Some form of life existance from Zeons ago I would suspect.

[Bazile]

They have found Lord Lucan ?

[shooty]

No, He was spotted on Red Rum in Blackpool on Sat..

[LazyGun]

Could be a bit "hypey" and definitely has the potential to be anti-climatic. Seems a lot of notice for an historic announcement.

Maybe some better indications of past water on Mars? Maybe traces of methane? The really big news would be the finding of some sort of life. I guess...

[bibblebub]

maybe they've announced the announcement early to try to prevent any cover-up rumours appearing on the internet

[shooty]

Why Dec 3rd though ?
If they have evidence of something and it needs double checking before its release, then surely the time scale would depend on when it or what has been confirmed. (how can anyone put a date on that) ?

[Bazile]

My bet is on definite evidence of water in the past or the discovery of microorganisms

[shooty]

Or plant life.

[Nibble]

I thought goodlife had flounced yesterday?? :)

[shoota]

Blue cheese....

[maggiebee]

That's all we need, life on another planet. So......... would we go there and bugger it up just as we have with earth?

[DTCwordfan]

Brilliant, nibble......

My bet is that it's micro-organisms or fossils thereof.

[jake-the-peg]

The evidence of water in the past on Mars is pretty solid already so if it's that I think people are going to feel pretty let down!

I also think that current life even microbial is way too much to hope for.

I'd expect some sort of indirect evidence of past life - like Methane or potential microfossils.

Even this would be incredible - we have only one model of life so another would show us that it's really common.

Some sort of complex fossil would be the jackpot - that would change our notions of the Universe for ever and there would be a real reason to send humans.

Again - too much to hope for I think

[heathfield]

Nasa are saying they want to "check and double check" before making any announcement. Could this end up being a fuss about nothing?

[Nibble]

Thought that goodlife just wanted to be the life on other planets - usually in his own little world

[Nibble]

Seriously, I expect that it'll be fossilised indication of bacteria, therefore nothing to get really excited about, since in the words of the song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLPRC88jto

[boomster]

My guess is methane gas - failing that an inscription, "Kilroy was here!"

[rojash]

They've found Higgs
They are torturing him to find out where he hid his boson.
They think he can hold out 'til Dec 2

[EDDIE51]

If we ever do find for certain life outside The Earth what will the 'God squad' do ? Will they just say the the same 'God' created that as well ?
Suppose we find intellegent beings who do not 'belive' will they want to send missionaries to convert them ?