Question, Why is Mars almost sterile?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the question of why Mars is considered almost sterile, exploring potential historical events such as solar mass ejections and their effects on the Martian atmosphere and oceans. The scope includes speculative reasoning about astrophysical phenomena and their implications for planetary habitability.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Speculative reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a random coronal mass ejection (CME) could have released a solar mass of plasma that stripped Mars of its atmosphere and oceans, leading to its current sterile state.
  • Another participant counters that a solar mass of plasma would leave nothing behind at the sun's location, implying that such an event would not have occurred as proposed.
  • Some participants speculate about the historical mass of the sun and its potential effects on Mars, noting that Mars lacks the gravity to retain a significant atmosphere or oceans over long periods.
  • There is a humorous suggestion that if the sun had twice its current mass, Mars might have also had a different mass before being affected by solar phenomena.
  • A later reply critiques the speculative nature of the discussion, suggesting it lacks utility and calls for closure on the topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the plausibility of the CME event as a cause for Mars' sterility, with some arguing against the initial hypothesis while others propose alternative speculative scenarios. The discussion remains unresolved with competing views presented.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes speculative claims that are not substantiated by consensus or definitive evidence. There are unresolved assumptions regarding the historical conditions of Mars and the sun's mass.

Bearsun
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During the many millions of years that Mars has existed is it possible a random CME event released a solar mass of plasma that struck Mars and powered off the Martian atmosphere and the Martian ocean(s) and made Mars almost sterile?
 
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Not really no. A solar mass of plasma leaves nothing left where the sun is.
 
Or prior to that, the sun had twice the mass it does today! :-p

Mars doesn't have the gravity required to keep much of an atmosphere or oceans for a long time.
 
russ_watters said:
Or prior to that, the sun had twice the mass it does today! :-p

Mars doesn't have the gravity required to keep much of an atmosphere or oceans for a long time.

If the Sun had twice the mass maybe Mars did also before getting struck by a blow torch blast of Solar Plasma. There are lots of possibilities over billions of years. We living organisms called humans are an example of what can happen given enough time and opportunity.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Not really no. A solar mass of plasma leaves nothing left where the sun is.

Bearsun said:
During the many millions of years that Mars has existed is it possible a random CME event released a solar mass of plasma that struck Mars and powered off the Martian atmosphere and the Martian ocean(s) and made Mars almost sterile?

Please explain futher. Aren't we Stardust?
 
1-1=0.

This is too speculative to be useful. Closed.
 

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