Life out there

Evidence for Martian Life

Yet again, Mars is in the news only this time it is evidence collected by the rover resulting in scientist saying there is life there, even if it’s just ‘biological.’

Ideally, NASA would like to go and retrieve the sample that Perseverance will collect. Given that this sample might actually have life, wouldn’t it be better to leave it there? After all, isn’t that precisely why we go through all the effort to sterilize stuff going there to protect potential life there? What about the definite life here that may not be compatible with life there? It might be reasonable to suspect we’re compatible, given some scientist speculate life on Earth originate on Mars, but why risk it? What’s the human track record on containing biologics they’re studying in labs?

I am not pessimistic about finding life on Mars. I think a strong case has been made for Mars definitely having life, and this Perseverance sample is just one more nail pried from a coffin of denial. Had any of the rovers landed in Cydonia, home of the Face on Mars and a hand full of pyramids, we likely wouldn’t still be a debate.

Maybe if science cures cancer, research money would dwindle. But if NASA finds life on Mars, research money will…