Replies

"There are fundamentalists who don't like the idea that their creator put life anywhere other than Earth," he said.

Bad, bad Chrisitians!!!! Dim-witted, benighted, supeprstitious morons.... hate science.... want to defund it, yada yada:

"Kirschvink fears religious sentiment may be playing a role in the money (i.e., federal budget) cuts."

Actually it's more likely that trying to fund a major war, bail out Big Easy, pay for Medicare, etc., etc., the gummint is just tapped out.

As to the question: "Could Mars possibly have had spores?"

Well jeepers, if Mars had them, then why wouldn't earth have them as well? Same solar system; same sun spewing forth heavy elements, etc., etc. What would make Mars so special that it originates life that it cannot support in its own environment; but that earth, which is life-friendly, wasn't the inception of it?

This is actually an interesting question. Thoughts, people?

Thanks so much for writing, hp!