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American Morning

Researchers on Devon Island Study Mars

Aired July 18, 2001 - 11:29   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Back here on Earth, scientists are learning about the red planet by studying the surface of the Earth inside the Arctic Circle. The location is Devon Island, Canada. And that's where we find our intrepid Miles O'Brien, who's joining us now, live by videophone.

Miles, you must be in heaven. You're as close as you can get to Mars without leaving Earth.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN SPACE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I'd like to be the first reporter to report to you from Mars but in the meantime this is good enough, Kyra.

We are in Devon Island, world's largest inhabited island. Scientists are in the eighth week annual field season out here, sort of a giant sandbox for these researchers, all of them are world renowned experts on the planets in particular, Mars, all kinds of interesting projects under way.

First of all, let's take a look at some pictures, which we've been gathering throughout the course of this week. This is a very baron place, seemingly lifeless and therein lies the allure. It's cold and it's dry. And that's exactly the way things are on Mars. And so, a lot experiments that can be tried here, for example looking for ground water or tiny forms of life, microbes...

PHILLIPS: Miles, I apologize. We have to interrupt you. We are going to hopefully get back to you.

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