Among Earth’s neighbors, Mars is the planet that scientists are most concerned about. Before human probes reached Mars, many scientists speculated that there might be life on the red planet, and some even believed that there was a Martian civilization.
But when the rover arrived on Mars, it was discovered through exploration that it was a very desolate planet. Except for some water sources in the polar regions, the rest are completely lifeless deserts. The real environment of Mars is far from what we first imagined. So far, we haven’t found any life on the surface of Mars, let alone a Martian civilization.
The lack of life on Mars may disappoint many scientists, but if we think differently, it could be good news for humanity. Some friends may ask: why is this? Is Mars not finding life a good thing?
The existence of life on Mars is actually very important to the future of humanity. We all know that life forms that evolved from different planetary environments can be very different. Earth’s ecology has evolved into the carbon-based life we see and hear. Only in an environment like Earth can all life on Earth survive better.
If life on Earth reaches other planets such as Venus and Mars, it is basically impossible to survive. Therefore, the environment of the ecological planet determines the direction of the evolution of life. From the point of view of genes, the ecological environment determines the characteristics and structure of genes.
If Mars also evolved life, then the environment on Mars would be very different from that on Earth. Then the life on Mars and the life on Earth may have some similarities, for example: both are carbon-based life, but in more aspects, the two are still very different.
The divergence of life forms is also very different genetically. Although there are millions of species of life on Earth, the genetic gap between them is very small. Even the genes of plants are as high as 60% similar to those of animals, and the genetic similarity of other animals and humans is as high as 90%. Chimpanzee genes are 99% similar to human genes.
This is the genetic similarity of life on Earth, but if alien life evolved in a different ecological environment, the genetic similarity may be low. If there is life on Mars, then their life forms are likely to be very different from life forms on Earth, and their genetic similarity will be low.
What happens when two very different species of life come together? Maybe not a good thing. In the world of life, there is a kind of life with a low level, but it is very domineering. They are viruses and bacteria. In the living world on Earth, the abundance of bacteria and viruses is absolutely king. There are plenty of bacteria in both animals and humans, but most of them form a symbiotic relationship with us, helping each other.
While there are many bacteria and viruses on Earth, most are not harmful to us, but many are very beneficial to us. The reason is that these bacteria and viruses also evolved under the influence of the earth’s ecological environment. Come on out, they are of the same origin as us.
If there is life on Mars, bacteria and viruses on Mars have evolved and grown in the Martian environment, can they form a good coexistence relationship with life on Earth? I’m afraid it will be difficult. When terrestrial species encounter Martian bacteria and viruses, the two will become mortal enemies. Martian bacteria and viruses could go on a rampage to attack terrestrial species, posing a huge threat to life on Earth.
Humans spend a lot of energy exploring and studying Mars. An important goal is to make Mars a second home and a second habitable planet for humans. Although the current environment of Mars is not suitable for human survival, we have powerful technology through which a series of modifications can be made to the Martian environment to gradually make it suitable for human survival.
If there is no life on the surface of Mars, then it is equivalent to a blank sheet of paper, and the safety of human existence will be more guaranteed. But if there is life on Mars, the situation is much more complicated. Until we are completely sure whether life on Mars has an impact on human existence, Mars is a forbidden place for humans.
If it is determined that life on Mars is a threat to human existence, then if we want to live on Mars, we need to find ways to deal with these threats, such as the complete elimination of life on Mars. This is not an easy task. Of course, there is also a way to develop a vaccine through genetic technology that can make us completely immune to the dangers of life on Mars.
This is a possible threat to humans from the existence of ordinary life on Mars, but what if there is civilization on Mars? This could pose a greater threat to humanity. A mountain cannot hold two tigers. Humans are the only intelligent civilizations on earth. Just imagine, if there is another intelligent civilization on the earth, is it possible to coexist peacefully with human beings?
I’m afraid it will be difficult. The development and survival of a civilization requires a lot of resources, and the resources of the earth are limited. At that time, in order to compete for these resources, two civilizations will inevitably break out into war, until one civilization is completely wiped out and withdraws from the stage of the earth. .
In the same way, the scope of the solar system is also very limited, and the resources are also very limited. When both the Earth civilization and the Martian civilization go to the stars and begin to develop and apply the resources of the solar system, in order to compete for resources, a terrible interstellar war will break out between the two civilizations. At that time, whether it is Earth civilization or Martian civilization, it will end, and only one will remain in the end.
It can be seen that no life has been found on Mars by any measure, which is good news for humans. Of course, whether there is life on Mars, we can’t really be sure at the moment, the probability of life on Mars is very small, but it may not be under the surface of Mars.
Based on current exploration of Mars, scientists have found some evidence of groundwater on Mars. If there is water under the surface of Mars, and water is the source of life, then there is still the possibility of life under the surface of Mars. While they are not surface life, they are also an unknown threat to humanity.
Scientists hope to find life on Mars, so that we can be sure that extraterrestrial life is real, but we don’t want life on Mars, after all, Mars is another home for humans in the future.
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