Scientists have found dormant microbes in Antarctica. Could similar microbes be alive on Mars? Read the story on Space.com.
There is at least a possibility that this may be the case. Not that there are any additional reasons needed to go to Mars, but it is an additional mission driver.
It’s past time for the U.S. to fund manned mission to Mars. A small percentage of the dollars squandered in the Middle East would be much better used by NASA to make this happen.