Why Life on Mars Will DOOM Humanity
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Assessing Existential Risk: Implications of Potential Life Discovery on Mars
Discover what finding even ancient microbial life on Mars implies for the prevalence of life across the universe and whether it pushes humanity closer to a catastrophic future barrier, the Great Filter.
Short Summary
- NASA's Perseverance rover found iron phosphate/sulfide structures potentially formed by microbes in Mars's Jezero Crater.
- Previous potential biosignatures (like Venus's phosphine) often failed confirmation, but this Mars finding currently lacks an easy abiotic explanation.
- Confirming life on Mars drastically reduces the probability barrier for abiogenesis, shifting focus toward later evolutionary hurdles like the Great Filter.
- The core existential question shifts: Are we rare because life is hard to start (abiogenesis filter), or are we doomed because advanced life inevitably destroys itself (future filter)?
This episode explores the two radically different narratives emerging from potential Martian fossil evidence: life is common everywhere, or life is incredibly precious and rare. We analyze the chemistry of the "poppy seeds" found by Perseverance and weigh the philosophical implications concerning planetary survival, especially if life starting is easy but surviving is hard.
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Top Comments (10)
Well especially if there are demons on Mars
You can't convince me that the DOOM in all caps isn't a reference to the DOOM game
The world needs more things that are genuinely entertaining and informative like PBS Spacetime.
Lately I've been really busy and haven't caught up with spacetime videos due to severe lack of time... I really miss your content, hope my life here on Earth gets easier so I can watch more often.
16:20 I gotta admit, i feeling like we are heading into this "great filter" at full speed just now.
"Nonsense," said the Martian Industrialist. "Mars will always be the lush green planet it is today."
NASA Civil Servant here (hanging out during the shutdown) So happy you made this video! We are very excited about the prospect of life on Mars, whether it be abiogenesis or panspermia. It forces so many interesting questions! I really do hope we can fund MSR and get those samples back to help answer perhaps the most important question humanity has ever asked - are we alone? Stay strong Space Time ✊
That’s crazy (missed this episode when it was new)
18:09 I was saying “panspermia” to myself for 18 minutes… it was such a relief to finally hit it.
“Putting aside existential anguish and planetary identity issues,” priceless.
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Top Comments (10)
Well especially if there are demons on Mars
You can't convince me that the DOOM in all caps isn't a reference to the DOOM game
The world needs more things that are genuinely entertaining and informative like PBS Spacetime.
Lately I've been really busy and haven't caught up with spacetime videos due to severe lack of time... I really miss your content, hope my life here on Earth gets easier so I can watch more often.
16:20 I gotta admit, i feeling like we are heading into this "great filter" at full speed just now.
"Nonsense," said the Martian Industrialist. "Mars will always be the lush green planet it is today."
NASA Civil Servant here (hanging out during the shutdown) So happy you made this video! We are very excited about the prospect of life on Mars, whether it be abiogenesis or panspermia. It forces so many interesting questions! I really do hope we can fund MSR and get those samples back to help answer perhaps the most important question humanity has ever asked - are we alone? Stay strong Space Time ✊
That’s crazy (missed this episode when it was new)
18:09 I was saying “panspermia” to myself for 18 minutes… it was such a relief to finally hit it.
“Putting aside existential anguish and planetary identity issues,” priceless.