Was Mars the Earth of the past and Venus the Earth of the future?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the speculative idea of whether Mars could be considered the Earth of the past and Venus the Earth of the future, particularly in the context of potential mass extinction events on Earth. Participants explore the implications of human extinction and the legacy left behind for future civilizations, as well as the possibility of past life on Mars and the differences between the three planets.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions what actions humanity might take to ensure that future civilizations recognize the existence of intelligent life on Earth after a potential mass extinction.
  • Another participant suggests that physical evidence, such as footprints on the Moon and Mars Rovers, could serve as indicators of past intelligent life.
  • A participant raises the idea that certain features on Mars, like the "face on Mars," could imply the existence of intelligent life, prompting a request for non-conspiracy theorist arguments supporting this notion.
  • One participant mentions that the "face on Mars" is generally regarded as an optical illusion, referencing NASA's analysis that attributes its appearance to natural geological formations.
  • A participant asserts that radio and TV waves emitted by humans will continue to travel through the universe indefinitely, implying a lasting legacy of human existence.
  • Another participant notes the significant differences between Mars, Earth, and Venus, emphasizing that Mars has much less mass and Venus is closer to the Sun, which complicates direct comparisons.
  • One participant concludes that the primary threat to humanity is self-inflicted, without elaborating on specific causes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints regarding the potential for past life on Mars and the implications of human extinction, but no consensus is reached on these speculative ideas. The discussion remains unresolved with competing perspectives on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the future of Earth and the nature of life on Mars are not fully explored, and the discussion includes references to specific geological features and their interpretations that may depend on varying definitions of life and intelligence.

PiRsq
Messages
112
Reaction score
0
I am not a student of astronomy or physics, or any sciences for that matter. But I do have some things I wish to ask the scientific community here in the hopes of better understanding all of your viewpoints as to the title of this topic. First question:

a. Assume that Earth is about to face a mass extinction (either through asteroids or human causes), one in which there will not remain any form of life as we know it (so far). What will we as a human race (collectively, leaving aside differences) do in the hopes that one day a future civilization, either evolving on Earth or from a location outside of the Earth, be able to acknowledge that previously there was intelligent life on this planet?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
Thread moved to General Discussion.
 
"to acknowledge that previously there was intelligent life on this planet"?

Footprints and a flag on the moon should be a good first indicator. And then we have our Mars Rovers...
 
I guess what I am trying to get at is that we see landmarks in Mars that conspiracy theorists would argue are man-made structures (ie: the face on Mars). So, there could've been life on Mars previously, intelligent life. Now what are the arguments that non-conspiracy theorists have for that statement?
 
The face on Mars is Cydonia Mensae.

Wikipedia said:
However, today it is generally accepted to be an optical illusion, an example of pareidolia. After analysis of the higher resolution Mars Global Surveyor data NASA stated that "a detailed analysis of multiple images of this feature reveals a natural looking Martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance depends on the viewing angle and angle of illumination"[4]. Similar optical illusions can be found in the geology of Earth; an example is the Badlands Guardian, which resembles a human head wearing a Native American headress[5].
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cydonia_Mensae
 
Our radio (and TV) waves will continue forever traveling the universe.

Yes, the humans were crazy.
 
Was Mars the Earth of the past and Venus the Earth of the future?
All three are vastly different. The mass of Mars is much less than that of Earth or Venus, and Venus is much closer to the Sun, so there is not good comparison.

The only immediate threat to humanity is us.
 

Similar threads

High School An objective Bayesian analysis of life’s early start & late arrival
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Undergrad Could life on Earth survive the far future?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
Extinction event in my story, is it believable?
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
Can UV Light be the Key to Changing Venus' Atmosphere?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Undergrad Can Future Civilizations Use Dyson Spheres to Survive a Red Giant Sun?
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
3K
Writing: Input Wanted Can a Gamma-Ray Burst Affect Communication Devices?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
Undergrad How does mars have a magnetic field, with a cooled core?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Writing: Input Wanted Future weapons that are portable....and destructive
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Graduate Venus to be humanity's next destination?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
A Competitor to the Drake Equation
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
7K