re: Bacteria and Oxidants on Earth and Mars...what a crock
Number 1: Earth's atmosphere is 10,000 times more oxidizing than could be the surface of Mars, yet life seems to get along just fine, doesn't it?
Barry, 10,000 times the Oxygen doesn't equate to 10,000 times as oxidizing. The harder-UV from the sun that makes it to the surface of Mars (unlike here on Earth), and has been doing so for some time now, seperates electrons from various molecules making them positive ions (and able to oxidize). The fact that the atmosphere of Mars is insufficient to neutralize these ions means they persist as ions for a long time.