Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:58AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [19 ] Welcome to Everyone! Glad you could be with us for another "Live From Mars" WebChat. Today's guest is Mary Urquhart.

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:59AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [20 ] Mary Urquhart is a research assistant for a NASA scientist and graduate student at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Mary's research focuses on the interaction between hot water, rocks, gases in the atmosphere and gases released by molten rock on Mars. She also writes K-12 curriculum and you may already be using it in your class; it's called "Reaching for the Red Planet."

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:50AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [10 ] I am in a high-school program without grades, so technically I am not in A grade. But by the public schools I am a junior. See I am doing an extensive research paper on Mars an how to terraform it and my chem teacher said that these chats would be good in getting info.

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:50AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [11 ] The "Live From Mars" WebChat with Mary Urquhart from the University of Colorado at Boulder will begin in approximately 5 minutes. Stay tuned...

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:54AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [12 ] Matty: There are two other ways to get info about terraforming on Mars. On the top "Live From Mars" Web page go to the question mark icon. Here you can look up topics based on search words. The second way is to go to back to WebChat page and look at the archived chats as I know we've talked about terraforming during a few of those. Good luck with your research paper!

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:55AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [13 ] Thank You Sandy I will be sure to look at those pages today!

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:55AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [14 ] Hi everybody!

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:56AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [15 ] Hi Megan

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:57AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [16 ] Hiya again!

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:57AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [17 ] Welcome Megan. Glad you could make it!

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:58AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [18 ] Hey John! It's great to "see you" again!

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:59AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [21 ] Thanks! Me too :)

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:59AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [22 ] Welcome Mary!

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 8:59AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [23 ] Where in Austrailia are you John?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:00AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [24 ] Hello everyone.

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:00AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [25 ] Who would like to ask the first question?

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:01AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [26 ] Hi Matty! I'm in Cairns, North Queensland. (The North-Eastern Tip)

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:01AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [27 ] What is the most fascinating thing that you have researched ........So far?

iluvatar: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:02AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [28 ] Good morning from Danielle and Beth, from Westlake School.

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:02AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [29 ] Mary: How did you get involved in writing K-12 curriculum?

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:02AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [30 ] Good Morning Danielle and Beth. Where is Westlake School and what grades are you in?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:03AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [31 ] Matty: I would say the idea that an ocean might exist below the ice on Jupiter's 2nd large moon, Europa. Not a Mars thing I know...:-)

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:04AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [32 ] Sandy: A teacher contacted me and asked me to help her teach her students about Mars.

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:06AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [33 ] How did you find out about the possible ocean? Also are there any planned missions to investegate this and would this mean that there was any type of life on the planet years ago, like what we found on Mars? :-]

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:06AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [34 ] Matty: the most interesting thing I have researched on Mars is the geology involved with Martian hydrothermal systems (like hot spring).

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:06AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [35 ] Good question, Matty!

iluvatar: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:08AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [36 ] Your biography was very interesting to us. We have some questions that we would like to ask about this biography.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:08AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [37 ] We know that an ocean might exist because of images sent back to Earth by the 2 Voyager spacecraft that showed a very young icy surface AND that Jupiters 1st large moon has volcanoes.

iluvatar: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:09AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [38 ] Westlake School is in Santa Cruz, Ca. We are in the sixth grade.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:09AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [39 ] iluvatar: What would you like to ask (and what does iluvatar mean?)

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:09AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [40 ] These hydothermal systems on Mars, do they have like hot water? I thought it would be too cold on the Red Planet for this type of thing.

iluvatar: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:10AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [41 ] Our first question: Do you work on all planets and their moons, or do you also work on meteorites?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:10AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [42 ] Matty: Another good qustion. Mars is cold, but it had (and maybe still has) active volcanoes. Volcaoes + water + hot water.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:11AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [43 ] Thats a = not a +. Oops

iluvatar: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:11AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [44 ] iluvatar is our teacher's nick... he got it from the Simarillion, a book by JRR Tolkien

Luis Alves / Portugal: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:11AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [45 ] Good Morning Mary

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:12AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [46 ] Hello Luis! Glad to see you joined us once again :-)

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:12AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [47 ] Iluvatar: I work primarily on the Earth-like planets (rocky ones) and rocky and icy moons.

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:13AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [48 ] So, if you found that Mars *does* have active volcanos, that means that there might be some kind of geysers there also?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:14AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [49 ] Megan, an excellent question! Yes, if Mars has active volcanoes then there might be geysers. They would be too small to see from orbit (probably).

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:15AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [50 ] Mary, I have heard a few seemingly outrageous ideas on how to get a liquid water cycle generated on Mars + how to thicken the atmosphere. Ideas like dumping Earth's industrial gases, to directing comets at Mars. What do you think is the best way to get a cycle of liquid water on Mars started?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:15AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [51 ] What are all of you studying about Mars?

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:16AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [52 ] I am studying how to terraform the planet in my advanced chem class

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:17AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [53 ] John: Before you get a liquid water cycle stated,first you would have to warm up the planet. There *might* be a plenty of water in the ground on Mars, so comets might not be necessary.

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:17AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [54 ] Thanks! So, if there are, is there maybe a way we could use them when we go to Mars? (i.e., like for drinking water, minerals, ect.)

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:18AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [55 ] Matty: Terraforming Mars would be a hard and lengthy process.

: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:18AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [56 ] I've been scurrying around the net, studying terraforming, mostly. :)

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:19AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [57 ] Megan: yes. But *if* they exist, first we have to find them :-).

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:19AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [58 ] I've been scurrying around the net, studying terraforming, mostly. :)

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:19AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [59 ] WHOEVER WROTE: ": . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:18AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [56 ] I've been scurrying around the net, studying terraforming, mostly. :) PLEASE PUT A NAME IN "THE HANDLE" SO WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE :-) THANKS

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:19AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [60 ] I'm just very interested in Space and aviation. (I'm in 10th grade) I am also a "smart filter" for the LFM project.

LuisAlves/Portugal: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:19AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [61 ] Would MPF see geysers?

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:20AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [62 ] I heard a theory about using nanites(teeny tiny self replicating robot) to inject nitrogen in the soil, then planting trees to thicken the atmosphere and warm the planet. Now here's the question, is this possible, probable or should I not even give it a second thought?

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:20AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [63 ] Sorry Sandy, 'twas me - I'm not sure why my handle disappeared. :-)

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:21AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [64 ] John: No problem. Glad to see you're still here :-)

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:22AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [65 ] Luis: It would be unlikely that Mars Pathfinder would see anything like that. Mars Global Surveyor (which will be in orbit) wouldn't be able to see the Yellowstone geysers (the largest ones on Earth) if they were on Mars. They are really very tiny. We might see an increase in water vapor in the atmosphere, though...

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:23AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [66 ] Matty: I've only heard of nanites in Star Trek...

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:23AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [67 ] I have a q on terra forming Mars. After a while our sun is going to die out, and if it is, why are we not looking somewhere else in the universe for a planet that is similar to Earth that we could terra form instead of terra forming Mars when it won't do us as much good in the long run? (I hope this is a good question!)

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:24AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [68 ] Hey, I didn't think of the theory some scientist did.:-]

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:24AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [69 ] Yes, I know :)

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:24AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [70 ] Megan: Our Sun will be around for another 4.5 billion years or so as a regular (called main sequence) star. We have a while yet...:-)

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:25AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [71 ] O.k., just wonderd! Thanks!

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:27AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [72 ] Mary: When do you expect to graduate with you Ph.D? Are you still taking classes or are you just doing straight research work? Where do you conduct most of your research--Yellowstone?

MattyP/A.L.L.: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:28AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [73 ] I have to go for a few, but never fear I'll be back. Maybe with a few friends.

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:29AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [74 ] Mary: Does Mars have a liquid core?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:29AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [75 ] Sandy: I expect to graduate in the next year to year and a half. I took classes last semester, but none this semester. I conduct most of my research in front of my computer, but I *LOVE* field trips to places that might be similar to other planets.

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:29AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [76 ] Bye Matty!

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:30AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [77 ] Mars may have a liquid core. We don't have any seismic data for Mars (like sound waves traveling through the interior), and Mars does't have a substantial magnetic field.

Tim McCollum/CJHS: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:31AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [78 ] Good Morning Sandy, Andrea and Mary - Charleston Jr. High School is online. We're closed today due to snow, but I had questions submitted by four young ladies who would be online if we were in session. Hope it's ok to ask them anyway. They'll be excited to read their answers upon return.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:31AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [79 ] Tim: go ahead...

John Bayne/Australia: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:31AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [80 ] Ok, thanks

Carrie/CJHS: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:32AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [81 ] What are some of the gases that are released by molten rock?

Jessica/CJHS: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:33AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [82 ] How do air molecules on Mars compare with those in Colorado?

Stephanie/CJHS: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:34AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [83 ] Did your parents ever "push" you too hard in order to be a success?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:35AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [84 ] Good question, Carrie. The common gases on the Earth are water, carbon dioxide, and some sulfer dioxide. Other gases are usually mixed in in very small amounts. Mars is probably similar (maybe less water, because Mars doesn't have plate tectonics or oceans).

Angie/CJHS: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:36AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [85 ] Why is nature so complicated for anyone to model?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:36AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [86 ] Jessica: The air molecules are more carbon dioxide on Mars, and there are less of them in general. The air pressure on Mars is about 0.7% of the average air pressure on the Earth.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:37AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [87 ] Stephanie: No. I pushed myself, really. Both my parents are scientists, though. I'm sure they influenced me in ways I don't even know.

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:39AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [88 ] What areas of science are your parents in?

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:39AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [89 ] Do you think that there might be water under Europa's surface? And if so, do you think that there might be life?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:39AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [90 ] Angie: Nature has many competing processes that complicate modeling. Sometimes the scientist doesn't know what processes are really important to a problem, and which processes are less important and can be neglected in the model.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:41AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [91 ] Megan: Many scientists (including me) think that there is liquid water or slushy ice under the surface of Europa. Europa has large fracture-like patterns that are hard to explain any other way. And yes, there might me (or have been) life on Europa!

Carrie/CJHS: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:42AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [92 ] Since you have researched three of Jupiter's moons, do you predict that any new moons of Jupiter will be diccovered?

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:44AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [93 ] Carrie: We already know about all of the major moons...we might find a new tiny moons.

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:45AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [94 ] Everyone: There are 10 minutes left before the chat is over. Get your questions in!

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:45AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [95 ] Any more Mars questions?

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:47AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [96 ] So, if there is water under the surface on Europa, do you think the water would be too cold for life, or would it be warmer under the surface? And do you think there might be underwater geysers there like we have on Earth?

: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:47AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [97 ] Mary,If you wanted to make a greenhouse on Mars to grow plants in, what aspects (eg - oxygen supply, radiation shield,etc) would have to be controlled?

Tim McCollum/CJHS: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:48AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [98 ] Mary, Sandy & Andrea - Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions. CJHS signing off before I get snowed in for good. See you online next time :)

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:48AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [99 ] (Oops, sorry, that wasn't a Mars Q!)

John Bayne: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:48AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [100 ] Sorry - :.... is me again

Andrea: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:48AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [101 ] "See" you Tim - Stay Warm!

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:49AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [102 ] Tim: Good to hear from you again! Have a safe drive home and stay warm! See you next week!

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:49AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [103 ] Life lives in froozen lakes in Antarctica, so the cold probably isn't a problem. There might be underwater hot springs on Europa.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:50AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [104 ] Megan: That's OK...:-)

Megan: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:51AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [105 ] Well, I'm leaving now too! Thanks for all the great answers and thanks for a great chat! Bye everybody!

John Bayne: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:52AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [106 ] Bye Megan!

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:52AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [107 ] John: Primarily a greenhouse would need to be pressurized, have plenty of water, have climate control, and might need protection from ultraviolet light (I'm not sure how well food plants can take it).

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:52AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [108 ] Goodbye Megan! Hope to hear from you again next week!

Andrea: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:52AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [109 ] Bye Megan!

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:53AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [110 ] Bye, Megan.

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:53AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [111 ] Anymore questions for Mary before she gets back to work???

Sandy/NASA chat host: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:54AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [113 ] Thanks to everyone who joined us today! And a special thank you to Mary. Your responses were great and I learned a lot :-)

John Bayne: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:55AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [115 ] Thankyou very much, Mary - That was a truly fantastic chat.

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:55AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [116 ] Thanks, Sandy. I enjoyed talking with everyone!

Mary/NASA: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:55AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [117 ] Thanks, John!

John Bayne: . . . . Wed, Jan 15, 9:59AM PDT (-0700 GMT). . . [118 ] Bye. Thanks again, Mary for the chat .... See you all on the first Manned Mars shuttle :)