Students create their own Mars in a jar

PROVO — You don't have to travel to Mars to see what ice cream would be like there. In fact, the conditions of Mars, including its low pressure, cold temperatures and carbon dioxide atmosphere, can be all recreated in your own home or classroom, says a Brigham Young University professor.

"Mars in a Jar" is a simple science experiment created by David Allred, a professor of physics and astronomy and faculty adviser for the BYU Mars Research Team. For less than $100, even elementary school students (with adult supervision, of course) can make their own Mars ecosystem and can test how various things — including ice cream — will react on Mars.

When Allred showed his son's third-grade class the Mars in a Jar experiment, the students wanted to know what ice cream would be like in Mars. The ice cream turned out to be hard as a brick.

"The kids figured they could build with ice cream on Mars because it was so hard," Allred said.

To create the Mars in a Jar experiment, Allred recommends using a chemistry flask instead of a jar because the chemistry flask is stronger. "We just used 'jar' because it rhymes with 'Mars,' " Allred said.

All the chemicals and items needed for the experiment are available through chemical stock stores. Stores don't usually sell less than a liter, but people may want to share the chemicals with others who are doing the same experiment. Students can also ask their college professor or high school science teacher how to obtain the chemicals. There are also science supply stores on the Internet, Allred said.

Other items needed for the experiment, like copper tubing and a Swage Lok cap that seals the copper tube, can be purchased through heating and ventilation stores.

However, the experiment does use cryogenic chemicals including liquid nitrogen. Those chemicals are used to recreate Mars' chilling atmosphere, which can get as cold as minus 123 degrees Celsius during the winter. Only adults or high school students with proper supervision should handle the material, Allred said.

Although Mars' low gravity can't be recreated in the experiment, close to every other aspect of the Martian environment can. Students can even get Martian-like soil, which is basically volcanic rock dust found in Hawaii, to put in their Mars habitat. The soil can be purchased over the Internet.

"I actually hope that they (students) can come up with new ideas of what needs to be tested on Mars," Allred said. "I believe students can make the same contribution at the same levels scientists do. I have great hope for students to make meaningful contributions."