Is there life on Mars? One Tufts professor and his research team, many of whom are undergraduates, are using previously untried techniques to help answer this question.
Chemistry Professor Samuel Kounaves took on the project four years ago when NASA created the "Mars Scout Missions" program, under which academic teams compete to design an original study of possible Martian life forms.
"NASA placed a $325 million limit on the mission and over 30 groups submitted proposals" Kounaves said. "The goal was to create a landing device that would land on the surface and perform analytical tests."
Previous studies of Mars' surface have been conducted by the Mars Rover, but Kounaves said his team is working on an entirely different approach to studying the red planet.
While the Mars Rover uses horizontal X-rays to examine the geology of the planet's surface, Kounaves' team "will be the first to drill into the ground and actually perform wet chemical analysis," he said.
"The Mars Rover performs horizontal geology; our aim is to perform vertical chemistry," Kounaves said. "We want to find answers to basic questions such as 'Is there water there?', 'How long has it been there?' and 'Is the planet theoretically habitable?'"
Though the team's research would be groundbreaking, Kounaves said the underlying concepts are not too advanced. "Because we know so little about the surface of Mars, the science of the project is very simple," he said.
The project will include the contributions of undergraduates. "It gives them an opportunity to work on cutting edge-research early on in their careers," Kounaves said, adding that his researchers come from varying academic backgrounds. "The project is very interdisciplinary," he said.
Junior Jason Kapit, who has been working on Kounaves' team since the summer, agreed. "I am an engineering physics major but I'm actually working on the chemistry of it right now. On the Mars lander there is a carbon dioxide tester and I am working on determining what temperature the lander should be kept at in order for this tester to work properly," he said.
Research assistants also learn from working closely with fellow students from other fields. "I have learned a lot about the geology of Mars and also about the methods for determining whether life exists on the planet," Kapit said.
Kapit said he wanted to pursue a career in NASA research. The Mars project "provides a very good starting block for me," he said. "This will probably look very good on a resume."
Kounaves said many of his former undergraduate researchers have moved on to such technical careers, including one at the California Institute of Technology and another working for the government.
Kounaves and Kapit agreed that Tufts provides excellent opportunities for undergraduate research. "Lots of students at other schools would give anything for the opportunity to do this kind of research," Kounaves said.
Kapit said it was easy for him and his fellow students to seek out such opportunities. "From what I have experienced and what I have heard, it is extremely easy to get involved," he said. "I don't think I would have been able to do this at any other school."
