Did Mars Suffer From A Natural Nuclear Explosion?

Posted by on April 2nd, 2011

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Mars is the bomb. Or rather, may have been bombed. But not by rogue Martians or those weenusmunchers from Venus. No, it was totally natural. This explosion wiped out all life on the planet and left it a wasteland of red sand. At least, according to one theory:

“The Martian surface is covered with a thin layer of radioactive substances including uranium, thorium and radioactive potassium — and this pattern radiates from a hot spot [on Mars],” Brandenburg told FoxNews.com.

“A nuclear explosion could have sent debris all around the planet,” he said. “Maps of gamma rays on Mars show a big red spot that seems like a radiating debris pattern … on the opposite side of the planet there is another red spot.”

According to Brandenburg, the natural explosion, the equivalent of 1 million one-megaton hydrogen bombs, occurred in the northern Mare Acidalium region of Mars where there is a heavy concentration of radioactivity.

Some are intrigued by the theory but others believe the only way to prove it would be to send a mission to Mars, which are resources better spent elsewhere, like trying to find other intelligent life.

Or we could just invent a time machine and hit it with a nuclear warhead. Problem solved.

[Fox News]

2 Responses to “Did Mars Suffer From A Natural Nuclear Explosion?”

  1. vsfm1013 Says:

    How do we know that Mars isn’t really the original Earth, and it was destroyed by a nuclear holocaust, and the Earth we live on is just the same experiment being tried all over again? O.o

  2. John Brandenburg Says:

    Those wishing more scientific data on this can consult the recent scientific paper on this subject:

    http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2011/pdf/1097.pdf

    or the recent book “Life and Death on Mars: The New Mars Synthesis”
    http://www.amazon.com/Life-Death-Mars-New-Synthesis/dp/1935487361

    Those who wan to see the “Big Red Spot” of gamma rays marking “Ground Zero” on Mars can consult the gamma ray maps for thorium and potassium should check :

    http://www.nasaimages.org/luna/servlet/detail/NVA2~13~13~23396~123937:Map-of-Martian-Thorium-at-Mid-Latit

    http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpegMod/PIA04255_modest.jpg

    The maps are included in a color plate section of the recent book : Life and Death on Mars