Is Mars habitable? Well, maybe. (NASA does youtube classes)

from
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/episode-2-we-asked-a-nasa-scientist-is-mars-habitable

Is Mars habitable? Well, maybe.

The question is, "Is it habitable and for whom?"

Mars is hundreds of degrees colder than Earth; it has a hundred times 
less atmosphere and that atmosphere has hardly any oxygen. But there may 
be other forms of life that could have evolved that aren't very much 
like us but are very much like the early forms of life that evolved on 
Earth.

Mars has evidence of being warmer in the past and of having stable 
liquid surface water for potentially hundreds of thousands of years. So, 
it's possible that in Mars' past there was a time where life could have 
evolved in that particular environment.

We have been trying to definitively answer whether or not Mars is 
habitable, and as of yet, the answer is still definitely maybe.

Learn more about the NASA’s search for life beyond Earth: 
https://www.nasa.gov/astrobiology

Full Episode List

Latest Episodes

Episode 12 – We Asked a NASA Technologist: How Did Perseverance Pick Its 
Landing Spot?

Episode 11 — We Asked a NASA Scientist: What if an Asteroid Were Going 
to Hit Earth?

Episode 10 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: Did Mars Ever Look Like Earth?

Episode 9 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: What are Lagrange Points?

Episode 8 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: What are the Trojan Asteroids?

Episode 7 – We Asked a NASA Technologist: Is There Oxygen on Mars?

Episode 6 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: Does NASA Know About All the 
Asteroids?

Episode 5 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: Do Aliens Exist?

Episode 4 – We Asked a NASA Technologist: Is There Weather on Mars?

Episode 3 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: Will an Asteroid Ever Hit Earth?

Episode 2 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: Is Mars Habitable?

Episode 1 – We Asked a NASA Scientist: Could Microbes Survive a Trip to 
Mars?

For example, episode 10, lasts 1:14
Episode 10 – We Asked a NASA Scientist – Did Mars Ever Look Like Earth?
Did Mars ever look like Earth? Yes, we think it did! Ancient Mars may 
have been wetter and warmer — similar to Earth. What happened? 
Scientists like NASA’s Dr. Becky McCauley Rench are trying to find out.

When the solar system settled into its current layout over four billion 
years ago, Mars and Earth formed from the same materials and looked very 
similar. Both are terrestrial planets, with a central core, a rocky 
mantle, and a solid crust. Early on, we know that Mars once had lakes, 
streams, and perhaps even a northern ocean.

The two worlds diverged, and we have two very different planets today. 
Despite the fact that Mars may once have been warm and wet, it is now a 
cold, dry place. As the Earth progressed with plate tectonics and the 
development of life, Mars' geologic activity subsided, lost water, and 
it became a much drier planet.

This shared history is part of why it's so fascinating to study the Red 
Planet. Our Mars exploration efforts are helping us understand more 
about Mars' past and future, as well as understanding Earth and 
planetary evolution both in our solar system and beyond.

So, did Mars ever look like Earth? Well, yes it did. A very, very long 
time ago.

Learn more about NASA’s Martian exploration efforts: 
https://www.nasa.gov/mars