Mars: Life on the Red Planet | BBC Earth Science

Some of this footage was filmed before 2024, and was correct at the time of filming
Mars is one of our closest neighbours, the fourth planet from the Sun, with only robotic explorers having explored this alien landscape. As the subject of sci-fi films and chart-topping songs alike, come on a journey with us to explore the mystery of Mars.
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[@hannesw.9088]

The fact that astronauts in spacesuits simply cannot scratch their face didn't occur to me until now...

[@tumbleddry2887]

Worse....sneezing or puking

[@joeaverage3444]

​@@tumbleddry2887 or having to scratch your butt

[@MichaelBabich]

Time to invent small face scratchers inside a spacesuit helmet. NASA definitely needs to allocate at least $1BN to this problem. 🤗

[@nghiado9895]

And having to breathe your own passed gas? LOL

[@dudewheresmycar01]

Could you not just pull your arm back through the sleeve and relieve the itch? Pardon my ignorance on how space suits work 😂

[@sp66-know-try-think]

In order to begin to populate the Solar System, it is not at all necessary to try, at the risk of fatal losses, to populate distant planets that are unsuitable for life. It is much more productive and promising to engage in the development and construction of mobile autonomous arks in Earth-Moon orbits. And with their help, it is safe, reliable and comfortable to move to any suitable point, to any suitable orbit in the Solar System.

[@eaglesfight]

I'm very impressed with the research and modern technology used to search for life on Mars. This video provides a lot of useful knowledge and broadens my perspective on the universe.

[@comfortncube510]

Thank you BBC

[@123Andish]

This narrator is amazing. Feels like Spock from Star Trek.

[@jedi4049]

it is

[@jonjosenna5581]

The technology we will invent in the process of going to Mars, will in-turn benefit Earth. These "what about earth" people need to understand that the tippity top of each science needs these big projects and dreams, to go that extra yard. Life can't be just about surviving. Remember much of the modern technology we have now is because of the space race, to the moon.

[@stephenbrand5661]

This is the second video I've seen from this series where they say that Mars is half the diameter of Earth, but then they fail to mention that Mars only has 10 percent of Earth's mass, which is the far more relevant figure.

[@chadjmoore]

Before we start colonizing off planet we need to come together as species. We need to end war and hostility, see ourselves as Earthlings first and stop fighting over borders and culture. IF there are other sentient life that we will meet we need to be united as a species or fail.

[@liammiskell3522]

Well that was gay.

[@LeviAaronx]

@@liammiskell3522you’re an idiot

[@LeviAaronx]

Exactly.

[@MmTTT-ki6ux]

​@@liammiskell3522he is refering to a book called the selfish gene

[@5GSPositive]

And that is impossible! Because all people has their own free will and free to choose in life. God created us our own mind to think while we are here in earth

[@thompjackson]

Great stuff, nicely done.

[@harrygoldhagen2732]

A wonderful, enjoyable, informative video. Thanks BBC!

[@petertuckergoettler5720]

Interesting To Note, merci.

[@novtag9724]

Yeah i agree

[@Sleeper197]

Remarkable

[@chic9233]

Human settlement on Mars is like ants crossing the Pacific Ocean.

[@poopongmcplop3635]

Ants crossed oceans by accident, not choice with intent.

[@5GSPositive]

If you think science or genius people can export all of the living things going to mars then if there is an asteroid who smash that ship it will gone in a matter of seconds!

[@petertuckergoettler5720]

How About The ''FACE ON MARS'', MERCI.

[@danDlion82]

Earth: the soon to be, red planet

[@Pincer88]

What is that music from approximately 22:18? It's beautiful!

[@HeatherJones-yg7wr]

That was a quick turn from "We discovered" into "We think.. maybe... shrug".

[@syvarris467]

Is that Zachary Quinto narrating in the opening?

[@roetheboat1]

Yeah, he did the narration for the "The Planets" series for the American release. Brian Green does the narration for the original BBC release.

[@paulfrancis8836]

I built that rover. Anyone want to call me a liar ?

[@LeviAaronx]

Didn’t you invent Bowflex 😂😂😂

[@paulfrancis8836]

@@LeviAaronx I started SpaceX in my garage.

[@scottdiamond74]

It's only nuts and bolts. Were the instructions difficult?

[@paulfrancis8836]

@@scottdiamond74 Took me a long time, the instructions were in Chinese !

[@oguzhan9424]

Those eyes…. 👁️

[@michaelanderson3096]

Mars' canyons may hold life - local atmosphere.

[@PaulAnthony2009]

Brian Cox, the peter pan rock star of science :)

[@explorewithavi340]

The world need to know these amazing things happening

[@LossyLossnitzer]

DO I need a TV license to watch this video or have I paid my TV license to allow the whole world to watch this free of charge and pay the people to put this BBC channel on youtube and control the social media posts.

[@user-sk4gj3ji3o]

Are these real footages or studio

[@CoolStory-Bro]

2026.... When you realize, you've heard this all before. More like 2076. And I'd be impressed if we are even back on the moon by 2036. But could be possible. Good luck y'all.

[@alexlang2086]

{Hey Ai, deactivate music}

[@kevinjensen2071]

Your astronauts will need kidney dialysis on their ride back.

[@mikkel715]

Testing this new great documentary's sleep ability.

[@jordanlozinski2372]

Why not design really heavy clothing for people to wear to make up for the lack of gravity?

[@Mr_.T]

Too many adverts.

[@_Joy_Unleashed]

Imagine putting *THIS* amount of effort into fixing our earth and world (home).

[@Keithlfpieterse]

@_Joy_Unleashed: I also have my unleashed moments and ask questions such as: "Now how many solar panels could we have installed on planet earth with the budget of just one "Explorer" project to Mars?" I share your view.

[@PlanXV]

​@Keithlfpieterse China had a surplus of solar panels equal to half the rooftops of every house on the planet. USA and Europe imposed huge export taxes and killed off the market.

[@user-vf6rw9oj1z]

​@@Keithlfpieterse well, think how many solar panels you can put with the money of people travelling with airplanes just for a vacation. to me exploring mars is more important than a two week vacation

[@dft1]

we already put way more effort on earth. we always need to be exploring, that is how society moved forward

[@fossaflute]

​@@user-vf6rw9oj1z There are many useless things, expensive cars, plastic surgery for beauty, drugs, finally, wars, etc. But people criticize science...

[@MoskosFriess]

We gotta launch rocks back or they'll think we're weak.

[@user-qi9xj2hx5i]

Some human also live in underground.

[@larrymosher5045]

BBC Earth Science, excuse me I was waiting for a British accent.

[@5GSPositive]

If you think science or genius people can export all of the living things going to mars then if there is an asteroid who smash that ship it will gone in a matter of seconds!

[@user-wx6gx9iu3h]

05

[@jameswatadza8962]

Was this video voiced by Silar? #SaveTheCheerLeader

[@MajorMagna]

Yes, Zachary Quinto, who also played Spock in the 2009-2015 Star Trek films.

[@andysouthwick8312]

So has perseverance found nothing new ? It's been there since 18th Feb 2021.Was it worth the time and money ? When will we be told about what it has discovered ? And not just that we've flown a drone.

[@dmwehrer7094]

Go to Mars? Then what? Way too expensive.... yea! We're there! 😒

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

I ❤ the martians.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Yes.

[@dmwehrer7094]

@@user-zt5xz5fz4q there are no Martians 😂😂

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

@@dmwehrer7094 I am one of them on Earth.

[@zaytime4156]

Go and then not be able to breathe oxygen😉😂

[@dianab7874]

If parrot and trigger fish have produced so much of the sand on earth where did the sand on mars come from?

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

From the hands of Allah. The almighty.

[@Uvray]

Despite optimistic predictions, It's probable that we're 100 years away from putting humans on Mars. And I mean just getting them there alive. Not living there.

[@DDENZY]

We are now evolving so fast with the help of Quantum system and AI......it means that we are going to Mars with in 10years are soon.....

[@Uvray]

@@DDENZY Man on Mars in ten years? No chance, kid.

[@DDENZY]

@@Uvray unless Elon Musk is not there.....

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Red Planet.❤. The Blue Planet must be the Earth.

[@jonbong98]

Terrible jigsaw assembly of many Outdated assumptions, NASA's current data shows the Shrface reality is not as was assumed. Radiation is less, mitigation methods easier. Most water is still there, frozen. The perchlorates are a simple problem with benefits....

[@highflowerfairy2554]

I really look forward to the day Dr. Kissick gets that sample and can compare her Mars to Mars.

[@HaihaiHai-xu5oi]

No one knows for sure, 3.5 billion years ago, who lived 4 billion years ago!!!

[@MmTTT-ki6ux]

The earth is 5000 thisands years old

[@joeaverage3444]

I'm an estate agent. Is there any way I could apply my skillset on Mars?

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Yes.❤.

[@jimthorne304]

This is far below the standard expected from the BBC. The subject is trivialised by the presentation and unnecessary production tricks. It's painful to watch an interesting subject being subjected to treatment like this.

[@Pymmeh]

This is probably because it's BBC Worldwide, I think it's designed to be simplified with greater emphasis on emotion over more pure factual content.

[@comfortncube510]

​@@Pymmehl hope you are right 😢

[@MiyabiJNEP]

Maybe you need to turn the page on your expectations.

[@jimthorne304]

@@MiyabiJNEP There's a lot of crappy docs on varioius subjects which I generally ignore, however this is the BBC which in many ways sets the standard, but seems to have 'dumbed down' for this.

[@RickL_was_here]

🧻

[@dododimitrov9657]

I wonder why Mars and not our Moon. The Moon is closer, there are reserves of water in the dark craters, no dust storms.

[@ProfessorJayTee]

The "dust storms" aren't like you saw in Hollywood movies... They aren't dangerous. Mars also has considerable water, and the components of the Mars atmosphere can even be used to make rocket fuel for return voyages. That's a big plus. There will likely be a Moon base, but it's not a good place for people to live for long. Mars gravity may be enough to maintain human health, too; we know the Moon's is too weak.

[@malachite072]

The moon has barley any gravity. Gravity is essential for humans to survive, probably the most essential thing we cannot supply ourselves.

[@nicholashylton6857]

The Moon is destination #1. The place where we can get some experience and work out a lot of bugs before going on to Mars.

[@malachite072]

@@nicholashylton6857 There's no point in going to the moon if we're not going anywhere else after that.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Moon is little.

[@anthonyflynn3837]

I'd go mars tomorrow Earth is like being in hell so why wouldn't anyone

[@chic9233]

There is nothing in the solar system, and the only alien life is the amoeba.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

and you. Of course.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

You are very chic.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

I am an alien.

[@georgesimon2730]

its so important to find some kind of complex life form evidence on mars. cause then, we'll know...

[@sirtito2705]

CO2 is not toxic. In fact it is critical for life on Earth.

[@limabravo6065]

Yeah I remember hearing that plants need c02

[@CartoonHero1986]

Didn't Lowell just dub the features on Mars "Canale" and it was mistranslation and sensationalization that made the general public instantly think he was calling them Canals and meaning waterways? Since Canale is a general term applied to anything trench shaped that did or does carry water. Like even a dry riverbed or channel would could be called a Canale in Italian? Also if we want to nip logistics like "who owns Mars" before we get there we need to think much longer term then Nation States and Private Companies. We need to focus on guidelines for when human settlements off planet become their own Nation State with their own right to self govern... or we are gonna have a much bigger problem when tychonauts and astronauts realise the fight over which Nation State millions of km away holds jurisdiction over what on Mars or other stellar bodies ultimately doesn't matter. It might take some time but we'll either see a rogue Nation State form, or full blown Revolutionary acts of defiance against Earth's Governments and Private Companies Authority. Doesn't take much for them to just switch off a transmitter and spend the next two or more years prepping for a possible military reaction assuming the settlement is self sustaining and the majority of people and bases on Mars are unified... plus you have the risk of a "Napoleon" effect on the crew you send to take care of Mars; with two years of transit the people on Mars have a long time to attempt to convert the force to their cause long before they even reach Mars (like what happened to the French Royals when they sent the army to stop Napoleon's return and most of the army just joined Napoleon to march against the Aristocracy)

[@jameshall1300]

If you like reading, there's a great trilogy of books by Kim Stanley Robinson about Mars that explores that whole idea really well. Not all the science is accurate, but it's a really good read.

[@jimthorne304]

Percival Lowell made significant contributions to the discovery of what became Pluto.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Amen.❤.

[@lecturesfromleeds614]

Humans do experience that kind of confinement on Earth, its called being in Prison

[@davewhite3629]

The lab grown meat will come in handy. Lab grown beef jerky Mmm😊

[@5GSPositive]

Those particles that coming from a powerful magnetic came from the solar systems with different sources of planets. Including our solar systems well designed and I can tell that the EARTH is the center of the solar system. All things coming down towards the earth which make it as human needs in daily life. Our powerful creator God in the bible have done all this things engineered and architectured because humans are special to him but most of people doesnt obey his law

[@deebusoh9023]

No such thing as perfect human .

[@dcpack]

What does it mean to be "human"? Who has defined what a human is like when "perfect"? Pretty sure the term "human" implies imperfection, so a perfect human would be a very imperfect as an organism.

[@johnperkins7111]

Empty fluff.

[@Davedunphy-wr1ss]

There nothing on mars people we can't even go back to the moon were we even there???🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@amayophilliam2453]

i'm a suitable candidate. I just want to die on another planet.

[@hugomansavage]

Nice story you tell. How can you be so sure? What, are you going to come up with the money? Then, factor in the fickleness of governments. Maybe an outpost, or some kind of prison, but certainly no colony with millions, not even hundreds of people.

[@rithikuja7299]

Nothing new here. It would be better if real experts were consulted instead of a doctoral candidate

[@michasosnowski5918]

We are facing climate disaster here on earth, the only place we know that can sustain life. But we try to create base in a place that have no athosphere, where there is radiation and lack of water. Its madness. Its only scientifically interesting, but the whole effort of trying to send people there is pointless and loss of resourcess.

[@nopeyadayadayada1248]

That lady at around 8 minutes is my nerd queen.

[@dcpack]

Easily impressed I see.

[@thekingofmojacar5333]

Long before Earth, Mars was much more habitable than our planet, it had plenty of water and I'm almost certain that there was plant life and maybe much more. For years I have been exploring the surface of Mars (Google Earth PRO and Hirise photographs) and have found many traces of possible life forms. Mars is now a beautiful geological museum but had an incredible past and with a little more time and intensive research, all this will be proven...

[@JackRyan_]

So magnetic field on earth can be dead also same fate with mars 1:55

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Yes.❤.

[@42pirhanas]

The ‘evidence for water’ on Mars could just as easily have been formed over the eons by very fine dust, which, under Martian conditions, can behave like a fluid.

[@dcpack]

Hard to credit dust with chemical / mineral precipitants / precipitates.

[@LanceisLawson]

Clickbait! There is no life on Mars. There is barely raw organic chemicals on Mars.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

There are the martians. All green as the USD bills.

[@the_one_eyed_man_is_cursed]

When did English scientists get so infected with American narcissism. "Look at me"

[@TheebayOffroader]

I reckon, all the chicks in this vid are Aliens.

[@Kurioso-pv3qo]

People are starving, but these guys are telling us: It's only natural that we become a multiplanetary species... Starvation sure seems so natural.

[@dcpack]

It very much is.

[@MiyabiJNEP]

The social arrangement deals inequality, granted. Life is not fair. Regardless, the pursuits of human endeavors must continue.

[@stri2003]

Τhere is no going to Mars anytime soon...

[@officielEP]

I nearly choked when the lady said SpaceX is going to mars in 2026😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@VANQUISHED3]

​​@@officielEP She said "Potentially" I'm glad you didn't choke for no reason.

[@mdhowlader2295]

In the process we are destroying earth 🌍

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

I don't like the red color. Yellow would be better to my taste.

[@sirtito2705]

Go to Venus then. Find hell on earth there. Yellow atmosphere, yellow surface..

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

@@sirtito2705 I wiil go soon.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

@@sirtito2705 Hell doesn't exist. Only the Paradise exists.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

@@sirtito2705 Mars is male. Venus is female.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

@@sirtito2705 I will find God there. Yellow God, certainly.

[@XXplosiveUK]

We need more crazy genius people like elon. He is achieving better restults than nasa and when he says he is going to do something he always does it. Gotta respect that

[@Kurioso-pv3qo]

yeah, gotta respect how he's burning the atmosphere with all those failed launches. He sure's a genius. Nothing bad with that.

[@jamesh1597531]

​@Kurioso-pv3qo The waste product from burning that fuel is water, So no harm is done to our atmosphere

[@kallekalleful]

I wonder if it has a soul, if so, could you transplant it to earth? 😗😚😋🤣

[@SikanderG]

Humans will never live on Mars.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Only Vladimir Putin?

[@JogBird]

we're bringing mars to earth, problem solved

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Mars is with M. Earth is with E. Respect them.

[@marsspacex6065]

SpaceX will get to mars with humans long before anyone else. And then there will be life on mars , us. Thank you Elon.

[@HS-qv3dh]

😂😂🤡

[@tartanarab9666]

Just heat it up like we do here it will make it habitable again.

[@MmTTT-ki6ux]

No visa for mars what is the point of making it habtitable again, even earth is not yours you need a visa to travel from one place to another

[@djsarg7451]

Could we really live on Mars? 100% no. Solar radiation would kill you before you get here. It is too cold, too dry and to toxic a place.

[@djsarg7451]

Mars' atmosphere is 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon. [17] Earth's atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, 0.03% carbon dioxide. Mars has only about 0.7% of the atmospheric pressure of Earth. Mars' atmosphere is about 6.5 millibar, Earth's atmosphere is 1013 millibar. Surface of Mars is like Earth at 100,000 feet (30 kilometres) in the stratosphere. Mars' atmosphere's humidity is 0.03%, Earth's average humidity is about 50% (lowest 0.36%, high 100%). Intense ultraviolet solar radiation, due to thin atmosphere. Intense solar radiation and cosmic rays due to lack of magnetic field. Alkaline pH soil at 8.3, due to chlorine in the soil. Earth's average soil pH is about 6.5. Virtually no oxygen at 0.13%. Earth at about 21% oxygen. Mars is covered in dry iron oxide dust, has seasonal global dust storms, with a duration of about a month. Mars' average global temperature is −81 °F (−63 °C; 210 K), Earth's average global temperature is 57 °F (14 °C; 287 K). The seasonal Martian polar ice caps are mostly dry ice, frozen carbon dioxide atmosphere (CO2). Comets falling on Mars bring some water and ice to Mars. The thin Martian atmosphere means the freezing, evaporation, and boiling point of water is all at the same temperature. Thus liquid water cannot exist on the surface of Mars .

[@atomicplanets8226]

Mercury is actually Venus' moon.

[@frankchobot9726]

Just for the record. Mars could never support life. The planet is too far from the Sun to receive enough energy for life to thrive. Also, Mars is to small and would never be able to generate enough gravity to hold a thick atmosphere like Earth.

[@jimthorne304]

We don't need all this bloody computer generated muzak.

[@user-zt5xz5fz4q]

Yes. We need.❤.

[@officielEP]

Sorry, nothing Elon Musk says is credible 😂

[@Fpl8646]

True, lets listen to officeEP in the comments

[@thembg34]

Yes it's leaning that way But they just launched another rocket 🚀 so 🤷 I guess they trying to do something 🤷‍♂️

[@MajorMagna]

​@@thembg34they have launched more than a few rockets, true. But the issue is that Elon is pretty much an Egotist, and as a businessman, his interest is profit, not scientific discoveries (unless he can profit from them).

[@officielEP]

@@Fpl8646 apples and oranges my friend. I didn't promise to make the human race multi-planetary . Elon on the other hand, he says everything is ready and operations are about to commence but has never delivered on any deadline ever! Yh so maybe man will step foot on mars someday but I bet Elon isn't the one who gets it done, especially not in 2026

[@officielEP]

@@thembg34 you mean blew up a few rockets 😂😂

[@Sagacity61]

So far...failed...

[@dcpack]

I wonder how many of these people are still double masked.

[@HS-qv3dh]

Transplant Elon Musk to Mars. Please!

[@dcpack]

Does he make you cry?

[@HS-qv3dh]

@@dcpack yes, for humanity

[@RickL_was_here]

For your whining.... 🧻

[@HS-qv3dh]

@@RickL_was_here keep it, you need it for your own sh*t

[@liongjiahwong5478]

Cant even go to the moon. Talking of Mars is propaganda.

[@userwl2850]

Chinese will be the first humans to step on Mars.

[@MmTTT-ki6ux]

The earth is flat there is no space all are lies According to quran it said the earth is flat as well as in the bible These are pathological liars science for money they lie

[@milosterwheeler2520]

Too cutesy. Lots of jump cuts and mugging at the camera. Just stick to the facts. DISLIKE

[@lucidmoses]

After that soul transplant video I can't take anything you say seriously so your videos are now just a waste of time.

[@Lasselucidora]

Emotional garbage.

[@user-uq6nk3fx1z]

Long before Earth, Mars was much more habitable than our planet, it had plenty of water and I'm almost certain that there was plant life and maybe much more. For years I have been exploring the surface of Mars (Google Earth PRO and Hirise photographs) and have found many traces of possible life forms. Mars is now a beautiful geological museum but had an incredible past and with a little more time and intensive research, all this will be proven...