[js1138]

it becomes clearer and clearer every day that more and more places in the universe could meet the conditions required for at least the most rudimentary forms of life.

The exploration of Mars and Europa will be very interesting. Perhaps they have life, perhaps not. I'm betting that life is rare in the universe, but only on intuition, not on evidence.

[yendu bwam]

The exploration of Mars and Europa will be very interesting. Perhaps they have life, perhaps not. I'm betting that life is rare in the universe, but only on intuition, not on evidence.

Indeed. But I'd bet that life is common in the universe - based partly on intuition, and on the early start to life on this planet.

[RightWhale]

life is rare in the universe

There is independent confirmation today that the stratospheric microbes are possibly raining down from interplanetary space. Got to say "possibly" at this time, of course.