[wendy1946]

Because it blows their entire paradigm wrt the history of our solar system. Given standard theories, there is no way to picture Mars ever having been habitable, always too far from the sun and too small to hold a breathable atmosphere by gravity.

[js1138]

Because it blows their entire paradigm wrt the history of our solar system. Given standard theories, there is no way to picture Mars ever having been habitable, always too far from the sun and too small to hold a breathable atmosphere by gravity.

Perhaps gravity was much stronger then.

[onewhowatches]

It might be a large surprise and would lead to reevaluation of the history of the solar system. That wouldn't have anything to do with evolution, however.

But the main reaction, from scientists, of such a discovery would be excitement. Heck, scientists who study evolution would be excited to find how evolution worked out on another planet. Likely parallel development of life on Mars would be another, huge, confirmation of evolution.