Microbes Capable of Surviving Harsh, Mars-Like Conditions Discovered

[longship]

1. From what I know, I have little doubt that there's been life on Mars.

These extremophiles, like those mentioned in the OP, or like those found in sulphuric acid in dark caves, or at extreme temperatures at hydrothermic vents at the ocean bottom, show that life always finds a way to survive.

If, as many planetary scientists agree, that Mars was much more hospitable to life than Earth earlier in the solar system, life may have developed on Mars before on Earth. There is even speculation that Earth life may have been seeded from Mars.

Regardless, if life ever existed on Mars, we can find evidence. It would be awesome if it still exists. We need to look.

The best thing would be if it had a different chemical basis from Earth life because the extent to the difference is the extent to which we have a second data point, and it isn't us -- life has happened twice in the universe, in one small star system which means that life is likely more common than anybody ever imagined.

I get excited that we could know this answer in our lifetimes.

R&K