re: Instead of hoping for weak little Earth-like creatures just barely surviving under some Martian rock...
I don't think most of us here are hoping to find Earth-like creatures on or IN Mars. Conditions on Mars today are so much different, obviously and after this 'announcement'. It seems that, on the surface of Mars no biological life (as we know it) can survive... again, on the surface. However, we do not know what the conditions are in many parts 'underneath' Mars.
"Has anyone really looked into creatures that could exist like that?"
Extremophiles.
Of course, they have (samplings):
Astrobiology/NASA
Other same website and here.
Astrobiology, great topic.
