Housing space technology specially treated with ultraviolet light to destroy all microorganisms. However, soil bacterium, Bacillus (saprophyte) were resistant to this treatment. Since 2006 it has consistently found on the surface of the aircraft. This means that our bacteria can be the first colonists on other planets!

To determine the possibility of life on some planet, you should first calculate its physical characteristics, and then do the search for biomarkers. But in order to confidently assert on the planet microorganisms or even organic molecules, requires, first, a biological sample, and second, evidence that was found life forms are not earthly. For example, the microbes from Earth can easily cater to neighboring Mars together with the cosmic dust and meteorites.

Besides, on Mars have already visited about a dozen of our devices. In this scenario, the earth saprophytes was introduced in the Martian environment. If we assume that on the red planet has its own organics, it is possible that ative" bacteria took up its consumption. Therefore fail all attempts to detect on Mars traces of life? This "life" simple "eat"!

Logically, deprived of food, bacteria from Earth and themselves must perish. However, recently a team of scientists from Wichita state University (Kansas, USA) as an experiment simulated conditions similar to Martian, for colonies of golovinov (earthly bacteria that are resistant to salt). They "offered" to survive without food in conditions of extreme water scarcity in the environment with the composition of MgSO4 systematic sharp changes in temperature regimes (bacteria alternately was frozen, heated).

What came of it? In bacteria stopped the cycle of reproduction, but they died immediately. However, researchers believe that the experiment was not "pure". First, it was held at the temperature, which is characteristic only of moderate Martian latitudes, while at the equator, the amplitude of the oscillations is less. For example, on the Ground in the zone of temperate climate at the depth of two meters inhabit the so-called anaerobic bacteria. Secondly, the bacteria did not receive food, and a complete lack of food over a long period will kill any living creature, not only on Mars, but on the Earth. Yes, Bacillus can exist without oxygen, but not without food. And who said that on Mars, they will have nothing to eat?

Indirect sign of life can serve as an oxygen atmosphere. But today, the level of scientific technologies allows you to spend only a spectral analysis, revealing the presence in the atmosphere of certain molecules.

Head of the scientific center in Arizona Paul Davies believes that if life on Earth was brought from space, we have at hand may be other life forms that are not developed at the same time with us - the so-called shadow" biosphere. For example, it is a bacteria that can survive at very high temperatures, in craters ocean volcanoes in the area of powerful ultra-violet radiation, in deserts, in very salty, alkaline, acidic or radioactive environment... in short, where the usual organisms not reach.

By the way, last year, researchers from the University of Oregon (USA) discovered on Earth type of bacteria that can reproduce, consuming only carbon dioxide and olivine. As for oxygen, he almost never need: this element oxidizes iron in the surface layers of olivine, hindering microorganisms energy. Note that carbon dioxide is prevalent in the Martian atmosphere. And olivine is one of the main rocks in the Solar system, including Mars. According to scientists, the above-mentioned bacteria of Pseudomonas sp. HerB is most common among us on Earth, and they can be found even on the human skin.

The probability "colonization" bacteria Mars is quite large, as at the beginning of the space era aircraft heading to the Red planet, is generally not subjected to disinfection, and until 2006 simply not been carried out inspections to determine the degree of sterilization.

You can also dream up on the topic of rebirth "domestic" bacteria in new and devouring them inhabitants of Mars... But as long as one has not set foot on this coming to us planet, it is impossible to come to any conclusions about its inhabitants. So to speculate about whether there is life on Mars and not themselves whether Earthmen her come, will have very, very long time.