If the Mars Rovers discovered proof of life on Mars, do you think we'd find out?

[DainBramaged]

I know it isn't a very glamorous subject anymore, expecially since one is still running seven years on and one is stuck and possibly broken. But what if they found conclusive proof of past life on Mars, do you think the Government would let us know?

[slackmaster]

1. Kitteh

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_bZJuFE5s2iQ/SfkB9VuXxBI/AAAAAAAADfo/mBO1yQCPwz0/s400/cats+hipmotize.jpg

[MineralMan]

2. Other: Such news could not be buried.

Too many university types looking at the evidence. It wouldn't remain a secret for a week. There just hasn't been any conclusive evidence, one way or another.

[Deep13]

8. +1

[FSogol]

9. +1 n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. I think that's right

Although I don't think the American government would suppress it either, in current conditions - it'd be great publicity for what NASA spending achieved. After all, the suspicion that the Mars meteorite had a fossilised lifeform in was splashed across front pages around the world (I was in Ecuador at the time, and really frustrated that my Spanish wasn't up to reading the detailed report).

They might want to control the release about any radio message detected from intelligent life, wondering if it would send a few dodgy types crazy, but that's when your point of university types would become important - many would say all such important knowledge should be shared .

[zbdent]

24. ah, but you're forgetting the Plutonians and their mind control ...

they're still pissed off at the scientists for de-listing Pluto as a planet ...

[WingDinger]

3. In the end, if we cant make a buck off it, or make it a pet, we will expunge it.

[EOTE]

4. Why wouldn't we?

It seems like the scientific community has been preparing us for such information for a long time now. I think it's highly likely that life DID exist on Mars. What reason would our government have to hide that information from us?

[HopeHoops]

5. Are you kidding? The Martians would break off communication and take it for a joyride.

[Deep13]

6. Yes, evidence collected in space exploration is not secret.

NASA and JPL depend on public interest in space exploration to justify their continued funding. There is no way they would sit on that kind of information. No need for trust, NASA would disclose because they want people to know.

[Fumesucker]

7. Kitteh^2

[get the red out]

10. Glow-kitteh would tell us for sure

:7 I put my trust in the glow.

[Fla_Democrat]

18. Isn't Glow-kitteh....

Isn't Glow-kitteh from another planet? :shrug:

[damntexdem]

11. Other: Are you kidding? They'd shout it from the rooftops!

After spending the money to send the rover, finding life would be a major coup they would make sure to count.

[Brickbat]

12. Other: No one could keep it quiet.

It would get out.

[onenote]

13. +1

[TZ]

14. They've released evidence that there used to be water on Mars

Which if you know anything about biology is pretty much an admission that there was likely life on Mars sometime in the past. Not sure why, outside of the conspiroid bullshit that seems to thrive here, anyone things the government would cover up bacterial life?

[edhopper]

16. The thinking here

is of the same delusional mindset that the government has evidence of extraterrestrial visitation and has covered it up.

Try real science and critical thinking, they work better.

[DainBramaged]

17. Your insult is simply weak, nice try though, whimsy is never meant to be serious

many have accomplished more with less....here's one for you

[edhopper]

21. Sorry

I got you were just having a laugh.
Actually, I was trying to bait the UFO believers that seem to pop up here every now and then.
Now that's fun!
No offense meant to the OP.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

19. Other: the "yes" option text is a straw man caricature. -nt

[DainBramaged]

20. You don't watch many movies do you?

You don't know where that line originates from do you, and under what circumstances?

The government doesn’t lie to people

http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/a/aliens-vs-predator-requiem-script.html

Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem

[NuclearDem]

22. The fundies would certainly try to bury it

But you simply can't hide something that monumental.

[Chemical Bill]

23. Other:

David Bowie would be notified first.

Bill