Written by Nicholos Wethington
Universe Today
October 30, 2009
Multiple missions have been sent to Mars with the hopes of testing the
surface of the planet for life - or the conditions that could create
life - on the Red Planet. The question of whether life in the form of
bacteria (or something even more exotic!) exists on Mars is hotly debated,
and still requires a resolute yes or no. Experiments done right here on Earth
that simulate the conditions on Mars and their effects on terrestrial
bacteria show that it is entirely possible for certain strains of bacteria
to weather the harsh environment of Mars. ... (more)
http://www.universetoday.com/2009/10/30/bacteria-could-survive-in-martian-soil/
Sources: Arxiv papers:
http://lanl.arxiv.org/abs/0910.4830
http://lanl.arxiv.org/abs/0706.0530
