Life on Mars - Getting Ready

Getting Ready 

For soil samples:

• Sample #1 - Distribute 1 cup clean sand into 10 ziplock bags, around 1.5 tablespoons per bag. Label these “Sample #1”.
• Sample #2 – Mix 1 cup clean playground sand with 4 thoroughly crushed Alkaseltzer® tablets. Distribute the mixture into 10 ziplock bags, around 1.5 tablespoons per bag. Label these “Sample #2”.
• Sample #3 – Mix 1 cup clean playground sand with 8 packages yeast. Distribute the mixture into 10 ziplock bags, around 1.5 tablespoons per bag. Label these “Sample #3”.

For nutrient milkshake: combine 500 ml distilled water, 85 g table sugar, and 85 g all purpose white flour in a 1 liter bottle or flask.

For agar plates: see Life Trap activity for directions on how to mix nutrient agar and pour plates.

For organic molecules tests: see Testing for Life activity for directions on how to set up test stations.