Martian Asparagus
"It is the type of soil you would probably have in your back yard, you know, alkaline. You might be able to grow asparagus in it really well. ... It is very exciting for us."
"We were all flabbergasted at the data we got back," Kounaves said.
The scientists would not go as far as saying they now believe that life, even mere microbes, definitively existed on Mars, saying the results were very preliminary and more analysis was needed.
"There is nothing about the soil that would preclude life. In fact it seems very friendly.... there is nothing about it that is toxic," Kounaves said
WOW! Mars just became one helluva more human-friendly place!