Never say die

Biologist Robert Wharton of
the Desert Research Institute in
Reno, Nevada, US, is convinced that
there once existed life on the Mars,
planet. For the past 17 years,
Wharton has been melting holes
into the surface of Antarctic glacial
lakes and diving below in search of
life in any form. The surface of Mars
-according to satellite reports -
did contain such lakes a long time
back.

Wharton is continuing his
research on the premise that if living
organisms could be discovered iQ
Antarctic lakes, the same might have
held good for the lakes on Mars.
Back in 1978, Wharton and his colleagues had discovered approximately 13-cm-thick microbial mats.
Since then, lichens on the surfacy
sandstone and some red, purple and
gold patches of bacteria, algae, fungi
and protozoa, have been discovered
in the lakes. But, the galactic connection may take some more time to
unfold.