10th March 2003, 4:48 PM
Nothing was really confirmed there. I happened to watch quite a few things regarding that incident, and sadly it seems that they can't confirm said microbes are from Mars. There are other likely explanations, and remember occam's razor.
As far as water, that alone doesn't mean life. It's been known for some time that there's water, and in fact now it seems it's very possible flowing water is actually locked under the surface of Mars.
Scientifically, the view that there HAS to be life is just as incorrect right now as saying it's ridiculously improbably. As I said, we don't know the chances. In other words, there is no opinion yet until enough data is out to form one.
As far as water, that alone doesn't mean life. It's been known for some time that there's water, and in fact now it seems it's very possible flowing water is actually locked under the surface of Mars.
Scientifically, the view that there HAS to be life is just as incorrect right now as saying it's ridiculously improbably. As I said, we don't know the chances. In other words, there is no opinion yet until enough data is out to form one.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)