re: What's the value of science?
"My view: life definitely proven on another world would be THE greatest scientific discovery in the history of humankind."
I think the discovery of how make fire, was.
The wheel has been pretty important too.
Penicillin has saved millions of lives.
As I said, say, you find Martian rock varnish, why is this important?
What will be the consequent other than headlines in all the world's newspapers?
In what way will it be useful or significant?
"American tax payer we found rock varnish on Mars, so of course you will want to spend hundreds of billions studying this and maybe we will find Martian slime somewhere?"
"Can I get your vote?"
Or are we going to open diplomatic relations with the Martians? Maybe we can sign a treaty with them?