Sure, There Might Be Life on Mars -- But Evolutionary Thinking Doesn't Help Explain Why

The LA Times recently ran the headline, "NASA: We'll find alien life in 10 to 20 years." Ellen Stofan, NASA's chief scientist, was quick to clarify what they meant: "We are not talking about little green men. We are talking about little microbes." And why is NASA so optimistic? Because Mars once had water, and they think water is the key to life:

For example, Jim Green, director of planetary science at NASA, cited a study that analyzed the atmosphere above Mars' polar ice caps and suggests th...