write a 1500-word scientific report on an assigned topic. The topic is “THE SEARCH FOR LIFE ON MARS”. Humans have long been fascinated with the prospect of finding life on the planet Mars. Historically, it was believed that complex civilizations once thrived there. However, currently we have not yet found evidence of even simple bacterial life. In the summer of 2020 NASA launched their mission “Mars 2020”, which put a new rover called Perseverance on the surface of Mars. The main purpose of Perseverance is to look for evidence of life and collect samples that will later be returned to Earth. Your assignment is to write a scientific report about life on Mars. You will be asked to research and write about two themes: 1) Why do we believe there is a possibility of life on Mars? and 2) What kind of evidence of life are we searching for? The most important skill in writing a scientific report is the ability to obtain useful and quality information from published literature. To do this well, you must be able to: 1. Choose quality sources 2. Scrutinize what you are reading 3. Recognize the information that is pertinent to your report 4. Summarize the pertinent information in your own words 5. Synthesize the information into a coherent and succinct argument
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Search for Life on Mars: A Scientific Exploration
Introduction
Mars, the red planet, has captivated the imagination of humanity for centuries. The possibility of finding life on Mars has been a subject of intense interest and debate among scientists and the general public alike. In the summer of 2020, NASA launched the Mars 2020 mission, deploying the Perseverance rover to explore the Martian surface in search of evidence of past microbial life. This report delves into the reasons why scientists believe there is a possibility of life on Mars and the types of evidence they are searching for.
Why Do We Believe There is a Possibility of Life on Mars?
1. Presence of Water
One of the key indicators that suggest the potential for life on Mars is the presence of water. Multiple lines of evidence, including the detection of ancient river valleys, lakebeds, and mineral formations that only form in the presence of water, point to a wetter Martian past. Water is a fundamental requirement for life as we know it, making the presence of liquid water a crucial factor in the search for microbial life on Mars.
2. Similarities to Earth
Mars shares many similarities with Earth, such as a day-night cycle, seasons, polar ice caps, and a thin atmosphere. These similarities have led scientists to hypothesize that Mars may have once harbored conditions conducive to life. The discovery of organic molecules on Mars further supports this idea, as these compounds are essential building blocks for life.
3. Potential Habitability
Despite its harsh surface conditions today, Mars may have had a more hospitable environment in the past. Geological evidence suggests that Mars had a thicker atmosphere and warmer temperatures billions of years ago. Some regions on Mars, such as under the surface or near geothermal hotspots, could still retain conditions suitable for microbial life.
What Kind of Evidence of Life Are We Searching For?
1. Biosignatures
One of the primary goals of the Perseverance mission is to search for biosignatures—indirect evidence of past life preserved in rocks or soil. These biosignatures could take various forms, such as distinctive patterns in rock formations, isotopic ratios indicative of biological activity, or specific organic molecules associated with life.
2. Fossils
Another compelling piece of evidence would be the discovery of microbial fossils embedded in Martian rocks. These fossils could provide direct proof of ancient life on Mars and offer insights into the types of organisms that may have existed. While fossil hunting on Mars is challenging due to the planet’s harsh conditions, technological advancements have made it increasingly feasible.
3. Microbial Activity
Scientists are also interested in detecting signs of present-day microbial activity on Mars. This could involve analyzing soil samples for metabolic byproducts, observing changes in atmospheric composition that may be linked to biological processes, or even directly imaging microbial communities under the surface using specialized instruments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the search for life on Mars represents one of the most profound scientific endeavors of our time. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and building upon decades of research, scientists are inching closer to unraveling the mystery of whether life ever existed—or still exists on the red planet. The quest for life on Mars not only expands our understanding of astrobiology but also raises existential questions about our place in the universe and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Through a meticulous analysis of the factors that make Mars a compelling target for astrobiological exploration and the types of evidence sought by researchers, this report aims to shed light on the ongoing efforts to unlock the secrets of our planetary neighbor. As humanity continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the search for life on Mars serves as a beacon of curiosity and discovery that fuels our collective quest for knowledge and understanding.
As we eagerly await the findings from missions like Perseverance and future endeavors to Mars, one thing remains certain: the allure of exploring new frontiers and seeking out signs of life in the vast expanse of space will continue to inspire generations to come.
