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[MetalSlimeHunt]

Mars Periphery Update: Oppertunity's findings of "blueberries" may be evidential of life having once existed on Mars.

Looks like we have something else for Curiosity to analyze.

[kaijyuu]

So they found some bog iron (or something like it)? Interesting.

[alway]

Honestly if Curiosity wanted to find water why didn't we just send it up with one of those wishbone looking big sticks that seeks out water.

Because Curiosity is powered by SCIENCE, not bullshit; hence dowsing rods are incompatible with the power unit.

What? Is the space law on Planet Wobegon?

"In today's news from Planet Wobegon, the Changling Lutheran Choir went out for their annual picnic in the park... As usual, they had to bundle up, as it tends to be rather cold this time of year.... "

[Sirus]

Oddly, my archaeology teacher mentioned dowsing the other day. She apparently thinks it works, which frankly worries me.

[Karlito]

Maybe she can teach you to dowse for the answers to exam questions.

[alway]

Which isn't too surprising, seeing that if you dig down on earth, you are almost guaranteed to hit the water table. Kind of a strong confirmation bias when you don't compare it to the null hypothesis that you will probably hit water anyway.

[Sirus]

Well, her version of dowsing involved holding two L-shaped sticks to find metal underground, not hunting for water

[MetalSlimeHunt]

I guess if the sticks are made out of powerfully magnetic alloy and you're searching for metal that can be magnetically attracted, but otherwise no. And even then its kind of a stretch.

[Karlito]

It snaps before it even starts to stretch considering your hands are going to be twitching those sticks a whole lot more than the hypothetical underground super-magnet.

[Sirus]

Hence my worriment.

Everything else that's been taught so far is fairly well-established stuff, like using a grid system, keeping careful notes on whatever you find, etc. Also some "newer" techniques and procedures brought about by GPS and other technologies. It's just that dowsing thing she threw in during the previous lecture.

But I'm getting got off-topic

EDIT: I meant "threw" not "through".

[MetalSlimeHunt]

Well, people can hold both legitimate and totally crazy beliefs. For example, pretty much everyone who believes in homeopathy.

[rarborman]

Dowsing, pretty much the only explaination for it is latent magnetoception...

Also tiny sphereoids... and the article lists a organism that oxidizes iron... eh wait isnt mars red? as in rust... there you go proof.

[Sirus]

You know how you oxidize iron? You bring it into contact with oxygen or it's compounds (such as water). Plain and simple, no organisms of any kind required.

Did you mean something else?

[darkrider2]

magnetoception

The very first thing that went through my mind was magneto descending into the dreamscape and... BWAAAAAAAA

[Lord Inquisitor]

belives in drowsing!
Used it to find buried water and power lines. Power lines were easier for some reason. Use the wires not the Y stick method