Extraterrestrial Threats

As if the dangers from Mad Cow, SARS and Aids weren’t serious enough; now there is a group of scientists warning us of the potential threat to life on earth posed by potential extraterrestrial life forms from Mars reports Times Online:

EARTH must take precautions to avoid contamination from life forms that must now be presumed to exist on Mars, leading scientists gave warning yesterday. Potentially deadly microorganisms could be returned to Earth on a probe which is being planned to collect samples from the Martian surface.

The warning comes after a detailed scientific analysis of data sent back by the roving vehicle Opportunity which landed on Mars on January 25.
Jeffrey Kargel of the US Geological Survey said that protection of our own planet from alien forms of life requires the assumption that Martian life exists. 'Before proceeding with sample returns or human missions to Mars, we must review measures for planetary biological protection."

It makes me just long for the summer days when it was so much simpler worrying about the ursine threat to civilization.