More Evidence – of Water on Mars

By Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser —— Bio and Archives January 8, 2021

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As some of my valued Dear Readers may have become accustomed, every once in a while I’ll have some (mostly irreverent) posts on that Martian thing. What made me chuckle today was the cartoon of the series on “Speed Bump(s)” by cartoonist Dave Coverly.

Oceans of Water on Mars

As you may recall, finding evidence of water on planet Mars has been a great pursuit of NASA and other agencies for a long time already. And every once-in-a while, new “circumstantial” evidence appears in a scientific journal, newspaper, etc. -- all of high repute —no doubt. But positive proof had yet to be achieved! That’s why this cartoon is so important: It proves it, once and for all and beyond any doubt, really. Perhaps long ago, there were (please note the emphasis) oceans of water on the surface of that heavenly body but, unfortunately and most certainly, they no longer are. You’ll likely wonder what I’m referring to, so let me get you up to speed (bump):

The Cartoon

I’ll come right to it – after a short commercial – entirely for your benefit – seriously!

Don’t believe anything, especially from well-meaning folks! Trust me! Etc., etc. ….

Now, for the definitive proof of ample water on Mars: Speed Bump; source:

To the REAL Message

Dave Coverly’s cartoon is certainly funny (and clear proof of the former “oceans of water on Mars”). Ha, ha! In my mind though, it also has a deeper message about much of mankind’s propensity to simply discard items “overboard.” The reported gyre of (primarily plastic) flotsam somewhere in the Pacific, the need for more and more “landfill” sites to dispose of all kinds of refuse by communities far from the seas, represent problems of disposal of items no longer needed. As methods of disposal (that I have observed repeatedly, both on the high seas and lakes and rivers) they are “solutions” that only create, in many aspects, everlasting problems for future generations to deal with. Similarly, the new “green” ideas to ban plastic bags are nothing but a “not available” = “no need for a disposal” solution. The real problem is not the manufacture or use of such practical items; it’s solely their disposal by inadequate means. One more example is the material commonly known as “Styrofoam”. It’s widely used as a rigid packaging material for sensitive items and a great insulating material (e.g. for COVID-19 vaccines that require very cold temperatures). After several years of (prescribed) “recycling” of such Styrofoam packaging, the local bylaws changed. The stuff needs now to be put into regular household garbage that, presumably, gets buried somewhere in a landfill site in the area.

The REAL Problem with Garbage

The real problem with garbage is not the production or use of materials – it’s their appropriate disposal. Not only is the amount and variety of multi-component (garbage) items already significant, it’s rapidly increasing. Very little, if any of such items can be “recycled.” The “green” ideas get stopped out by both economic and technical limitations. For example, many food items are packaged in multi-component plastic/glue/paper materials that are practically inseparable, hence not recyclable. Due to their rigid structure, the disposal in landfill sites takes up a lot of space and can lead to toxic leachates contaminating the water table. Hence, perhaps it’s time to subscribe to

A new New Year’s Resolution

Contact your local/regional representatives to effectively deal with garbage through incineration – a process that is practiced routinely in many countries. It’s better to destroy the refuse before it becomes a burden for future generations – whether on Earth or Mars!