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Challenge: Design a Martian

Ms. Mookini's Class, California
Shroom

 


Mars ‘Shroom Evolution Strip

Mars ‘Shroom
From the water that was on Mars and is now frozen, the Mars ‘Shroom can be found. Mars ’Shroom has existed in its pre-preorganism form since the time that Mars had an atmosphere similar to the atmosphere now existing on Earth. It needs to be exposed to the warmth of the Sun (as Mars orbits closes to the Sun) for Mars ’Shroom to evolve.

student drawing of pre-preorganism form
Picture 1

This is Mars ‘Shroom in its pre-preorganism form. This form lacks the shell and gel.

2nd stage of development
Picture 2

3rd stage of developemnt
Picture 3

While still in the part of Mars’ orbit, where Mars is still close to the Sun, Mars ‘Shroom evolves into its preorganism form (Pictures 2 and 3.) In Mars ‘Shroom second stage preorgansim form, Mars ‘Shroom would appear to be like a deflated balloon (picture 3.). Since Mars ‘Shroom is transparent, Mars ‘Shroom cannot be distinguished from the rocks surrounding it. So, a white line has been drawn surrounding Mars ‘Shroom so it can be distinguished from the surrounding rock. The Energy Power Packet known as the EPP (shown as a yellow square) does exist in this stage although it is very small.

mature shroom organism
Picture 4

mature shroom organism

Picture 5

Pictures 4 and 5 show the mature organism stage of Mars ‘Shroom. Since Mars ‘Shroom is so flat, the EPP absorbs the energy it needs from the rock directly. The EPP takes up the rock and extracts the iron through a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction turns the solid iron into a liquid state. The liquid iron becomes first the inner gel used to fill up the entire organism so the interior structures expand and take form, like a balloon.

After the interior structures have form from the inner gel, the chemical reaction to create liquid iron stops. One of those interior structures is the Gel Escalator, known as the GE. This GE extends straight down from the EPP and appears as the red perpendicular stalk. The other interior structure is the Rock Disposal System tube, known as the RDS tube. This RDS tube appears as the red tube that is perpendicular to the GE. The function of the GE is to separate the chemicals needed for organism to create energy. What chemicals are kept or discarded is the function of the GE and changes depending on where Mars is in relation to the Sun. When Mars ‘Shroom is in the orbit closest to the Sun, the GE will remove carbon dioxide which mixes with the outer gel and all of this mixes with the sunlight to provide energy to the EPP by FEphyll. When Mars ‘Shroom is in the orbit leaving the Sun, the GE will pick up iron and oxygen which creates rust.

The iron and oxygen are delivered to the EPP to create energy. The GE is developed at the time of the Mars ‘Shroom’s last exposure to the sun. As the GE uses up the substances in the rock on which the Mars ‘Shroom is located, the right side of the GE moves, like a tread. Therefore, Mars ‘Shroom can move to continue to pick up substances for use for creating energy. The solid remainder of the rock that is not used by the EPP gets spit out via the RDS tube. The RDS tube was present in the flattened state but needed to be expanded to its form by the inner gel.

The final structures to be created so that Mars ‘Shroom is a mature organism are the outer gel and the shell. As Mars leaves the Sun’s exposure, the Mars ‘Shroom absorbs more carbon dioxide and iron than it typically would digest. The EPP is like a tiny planet. The EPP has an electromagnetic field. The EPP is absorbing the iron and carbon dioxide and it is gaining more energy. It is able to generate a greater electromagnetic field. With this greater electromagnetic field, the electromagnetic field surrounds Mars ‘Shroom itself. This electromagnetic field is the shell. The shell can now hold substance so Mars ‘Shroom can now begin a new diet, which is mainly iron. The chemical reaction to create liquid iron starts again for the second and final time to create the outer gel.

shroom drawing in full growth state
Picture 6


This is Mars ‘Shroom’s full growth state when liquid water is available. Whenever Mars ‘Shroom gets close to the sun, Mars ‘Shroom can act like a plant. Mars ‘Shroom acts like a plant because it takes the carbon dioxide from the rock and mixes it with water and the sunlight to create energy for the EPP. When Mars leaves the exposure of the sun, the water freezes and is not available for energy use by Mars ‘Shroom.

full grown shroom

This picture shows the full grown state of Mars ‘Shroom when there is no water. There is no water for Mars ‘Sroom to become photosynthetic. It must use the outer gel to be used as a substitute for water, to combine with the carbon dioxide and sunlight when Mars ‘Shroom is close to the sun.

The Mars ‘Shroom takes two Martian years to develop. After Mars ‘Shroom develops into its fully grown state, it continues to exist depending on where in the orbit Mars is. When Mars ‘Shroom and Mars orbits close to the Sun, so that Mars ‘Shroom is exposed to sunlight, Mars ‘Shroom gets its energy from the carbon dioxide mixed with outer gel and sunlight to create a chlorophyll like substance, known as FEphyll. When Mars ‘Shroom and Mars orbit away from the Sun, so there is no sunlight, Mars ‘Shroom maintains its energy by removing oxygen and iron from the rock

Discussion:
Mars ‘Shroom is a unique organism because it can withstand extreme temperature changes in its environment, extreme changes in light presence in its environment, and exposure to radiation. Mars ‘Shroom withstands extreme temperature changes. When it is exposed to extreme heat, such as when the orbit of Mars is close to the Sun, Mars ‘Shroom’s shell acts like ozone and blocks the majority of the extreme heat. Some heat does filter through. Since the shell functions like ozone, it also blocks exposure to radiation. When Mars ‘Shroom is exposed to extreme cold, Mars ‘Shroom is able to keep warm enough for chemical reactions to take place to continue to create energy to survive when the orbit is in its outer reaches. During the time when Mars ‘Shroom was in its inner orbit, the outer gel was able to absorb what little heat was let in through the shell. This heat keeps Mars ‘Shroom warm until it comes back around to the Sun. Mars ‘Shroom is able to withstand extremes in light presence. Light or the absence of light do not affect Mars ‘Shroom’s chemical reactions that is needed for existence.


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