Mars

National Aeronautics and Space Agency

The Xtreme-o-philes!

School of Earth and Space ExplorationArizona State University Mars Education Program

What are the conditions for life?

What are the conditions for life?Water Air Nutrients Temp Space

What are the conditions for life?Water Air Nutrients Temp Space

Do all organisms on Earth follow these norms?

Xerophile!

Do all organisms on Earth follow these norms?

Oxyphile!

Let me introduce you to…..

The Tardigrade

The Tardigrade

This leads to the question….

Is what we define as extreme here on Earth……

actually “NORMAL” out there?

ExploreOption #1: Handouts and PowerPoint

Option #2: Common Core focus • Reading in Science• Craft and Structure #4• Integration of Knowledge and Ideas #7, #8

• Writing in Science• Text Types and Purposes #1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e• Research to Build and Present Knowledge #8, 9• Range of Writing #10

Explain

=

Elaborate

• Your Extremophile selection was based on a general description of Mars

• Earth has many unique environments

• Mars has many unique environments

• Let’s see if any of Earth’s Extremophiles could find a habitable place on Mars

Elaborate

MISCONCEPTION ALERT!!

• Life has never been found outside of Earth

• We are looking for potential places of interest that “could” harbor Extremophiles

Elaborate

ElaborateSymbol Description:

• Can survive radiation of space

• Thrives in temperatures below 0°C

• Can be found in areas with minimal water

• Can be found in areas that are salty

• Typically found in neutral pH environments between 5 - 8

Elaborate

ElaborateSymbol Description:

• Exposed to the radiation of space

• Temperatures range from below 0°C to 40°C

• Very minimal or no water

• Area lacks salts or was not tested for salt presence

• Areas was not tested for pH, therefore pH is unknown

Elaborate

Evaluate• justify the reasons for their selection including our

understanding of life on Mars today;

• include critical information such as the abiotic materials that can be used to support the biotic environment;

• give examples of how the organism could potentially exist in that particular landing site specifically including genetic variations; and

• consider the potential for life not only in the present environment, but in past environments.

Extend• Have students select extremophiles that could

potentially live on Mars and be producers for other extremophiles, acting in primary succession

• Use the Marsbound! activity found at http://marsed.asu.edu/lesson-plans-marsbound to have students plan a mission to Mars looking for extremophiles at their proposed landing site using Engineering Practices and the Iterative Design Cycle.