“Hope” is now in orbit around another world! This is a technical triumph. Half the spacecraft sent to Mars in the past have failed in their mission: there is much to go wrong. And because a radio signal takes more than 10 minutes to traverse the immense distance, success depends on perfect pre-planning of the manoeuvres which must be carried out robotically, at the right time and in the right sequence. I watched the TV footage of the Hope control room, and can well imagine the elation when the engineers received the signals that confirmed the achievement of the intended orbit.
Hope is being joined this month by two other missions, one from the US and one from China. There should have been a fourth, from the European Space Agency, but sadly this vehicle encountered technical problems and will have to wait for the next launch opportunity. There are periodic launch windows when the Sun, Earth and Mars are optimally aligned; the next comes in about two years’ time.
Mars has held a special fascination for more than a century. Indeed, it was widely believed that it was inhabited by intelligent beings. We now know enough to rule out any "advanced" or conspicuous life on the Martian surface, though it's possible that some could have existed three or four billion years ago when there is evidence that there was more water on the planet than there is today.
We already have maps of Mars: indeed, we know more about Martian topography than about the bottom of Earth's deep oceans. And Hope will reveal far better images of the surface, and tell us more about the atmosphere and climate.
The question “is there life on Mars?” fascinates the public. But scientists regard it as crucial in a cosmic context – in answering the wider question: “Are we alone in a vast cosmos or do aliens exist, far away, on planets orbiting distant stars?” We don’t know how life began here on Earth – what caused the transition between complex chemicals and the first self-energised and reproducing systems that we’d deem to be “alive”. This could be a rare fluke – even perhaps unique to the Earth – or, at the other extreme, it could happen on any planet, around any star, where the conditions resembled those on the young Earth.
So, if life were found to have originated in a second location in our Solar System – twice around one star (our Sun) – then it can’t be a rare fluke. This would have the momentous implication that many of the billions of Sun-like stars in the Galaxy will harbour some form of life. Our entire Milky Way will be teeming. But until we find life elsewhere in our Solar System, it remains possible that Earth is a unique abode in the entire cosmos.
That’s why we’re keen to search for even the most vestigial evidence for life on Mars – and, thereafter, to extend the search to other locations in our Solar System. Within a decade or two, sophisticated robotic probes will venture to the moons of Jupiter or Saturn, with a focus on Europa or Enceladus, which both have ice-covered oceans in which some alien creatures could be swimming – as perhaps they did on Mars in the remote past.
Human spaceflight is more likely to involve national rivalry than the friendly cooperation associated with scientifically motivated ventures
The future of geologic investigation of other worlds lies with highly improved versions of present-day Mars rovers. These vehicles will deploy numerous tools, virtual-reality and artificial-intelligence capabilities to probe rocks and minerals, using a memory equal – and soon superior – to any human’s. They will traverse the Martian surface for decades, continuously learning about the topography, seismographic activity and distribution of geologic strata in bulk and in detail. Some will return samples to Earth for fuller analysis. Conceptually similar robots will eventually be able to repair space stations, or build complex structures in space.
The robotic probes orbiting Mars, or trundling across its surface – and the flotilla of more advanced machines that will hopefully probe the outer Solar System – will represent the efforts of many spacefaring nations. We can hope that this noble enterprise of deepening our understanding of humanity's place in the wider cosmos will proceed in the cooperative spirit that characterises most of science.
Of course, a key question is whether and how quickly humans will follow these probes. The practical case is actually becoming weaker rather than stronger. Today, a trained geologist on the moon can perform better than a robotic explorer, but that won't be true a decade or two from now as miniaturisation and AI become more sophisticated.
There are, however, other reasons for enthusiasm about human space exploration. For many, the most compelling reason is simply "uplifting the human spirit". We applaud and are inspired by heroic accomplishments, and many of us would regard a human landing on Mars as a paramount achievement of our species. Do these emotions, though, justify the costs and dangers of such missions?
Unfortunately, human spaceflight is more likely to involve national rivalry than the friendly cooperation associated with scientifically motivated ventures. For instance, the former president Donald Trump exalted a future "when American astronauts will plant our beautiful Stars and Stripes on the surface of Mars", adding the pride of ownership to the thrill of human achievement.
There are other motivations for astronaut expeditions to our celestial neighbours. These include the belief that space offers an eventual refuge from a debilitated Earth and an eagerness to exploit raw materials.
Shortly before his death in 2018, my Cambridge colleague Stephen Hawking stated that “spreading out may be the only thing that saves us from ourselves. I am convinced that humans need to leave Earth.” More recently, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, who is deploying some of his vast wealth to fund the “Blue Origin” company to develop rockets (as is Elon Musk’s company SpaceX), has said that humans need space travel because “we are in the process of destroying this planet”. Among other outcomes, Bezos envisions in the far future that giant colonies would each allow millions of people to live in space.
For the enthusiasts, habitats on Mars offer not only sites to develop a better society but also places where humans could use advanced technology (bio and AI) to modify themselves – to adapt to the lower gravity and rarefied atmosphere on Mars or, in the Bezos scenario, produce an artificial gravitational force within the enormous rotating wheel of a million-person “posthuman environment”, where genetic engineering could attempt to reduce diseases and prolong human life.
Such plans appeal to those who see Earth’s future as deeply uncertain or even hopeless. A moment’s thought, however, reveals that the notion that we can learn from our errors on Earth in order to survive in space involves pie-in-the-sky optimism. And surely the billions of people to be left behind deserve greater consideration. If we can’t solve humanity’s problems on our home planet, we seem highly unlikely to be able to do so by establishing ourselves in space. Dealing with environmental issues like climate change on Earth, challenging though they are, are cheap and simple compared with “terraforming” Mars to render it habitable by ordinary humans.
I personally wouldn’t expect mass migration to Mars. We humans are far better adapted to our Earthly home. We should use space technology for fabricating large structures in space, for monitoring the environment, for communications, and perhaps for mining asteroids.
Nonetheless, I think it’s likely that some bold adventurers will walk on Mars by the end of the century. Maybe some privately funded risk-takers will go with a one-way ticket to occupy “bubbles” assembled in advance by robotic fabricators. I hope they go in the spirit of cooperation rather than hostile rivalry – coming from many nations, including the UAE.
Lord Rees is a member of the UK House of Lords and the British Astronomer Royal
The specs: 2018 Maserati Ghibli
Price, base / as tested: Dh269,000 / Dh369,000
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 355hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.9L / 100km
Meydan card
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (PA) Group 1 US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Conditions (TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.40pm: UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 (TB) Group 2 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
10pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
Neil Thomson – THE BIO
Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.
Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.
Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.
Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.
Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.
Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
SCHEDULE
Saturday, April 20: 11am to 7pm - Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival and Para jiu-jitsu.
Sunday, April 21: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (female) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Monday, April 22: 11am to 6pm - Abu Dhabi World Youth (male) Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Tuesday, April 23: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Masters Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Wednesday, April 24: 11am-6pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Thursday, April 25: 11am-5pm Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Friday, April 26: 3pm to 6pm Finals of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Saturday, April 27: 4pm and 8pm awards ceremony.
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
UAE SQUAD
UAE team
1. Chris Jones-Griffiths 2. Gio Fourie 3. Craig Nutt 4. Daniel Perry 5. Isaac Porter 6. Matt Mills 7. Hamish Anderson 8. Jaen Botes 9. Barry Dwyer 10. Luke Stevenson (captain) 11. Sean Carey 12. Andrew Powell 13. Saki Naisau 14. Thinus Steyn 15. Matt Richards
Replacements
16. Lukas Waddington 17. Murray Reason 18. Ahmed Moosa 19. Stephen Ferguson 20. Sean Stevens 21. Ed Armitage 22. Kini Natuna 23. Majid Al Balooshi
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
yallacompare profile
Date of launch: 2014
Founder: Jon Richards, founder and chief executive; Samer Chebab, co-founder and chief operating officer, and Jonathan Rawlings, co-founder and chief financial officer
Based: Media City, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: 120 employees
Investors: 2014: $500,000 in a seed round led by Mulverhill Associates; 2015: $3m in Series A funding led by STC Ventures (managed by Iris Capital), Wamda and Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority; 2019: $8m in Series B funding with the same investors as Series A along with Precinct Partners, Saned and Argo Ventures (the VC arm of multinational insurer Argo Group)
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
'The Batman'
Stars:Robert Pattinson
Director:Matt Reeves
Rating: 5/5
