Mars Extant Life: What's Next? Conference Report

• DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2237
• Publication Date: 2020-05-29T02:59:40Z
• Authors: B.L. Carrier; D.W. Beaty; M.A. Meyer; J.G. Blank; L. Chou; S. DasSarma; D.J. Des Marais; J.L. Eigenbrode; N. Grefenstette; N.L. Lanza; A.C. Schuerger; P. Schwendner; H.D. Smith; C.R. Stoker; J.D. Tarnas; K.D. Webster; C. Bakermans; B.K. Baxter; M.S. Bell; S.A. Benner; H.H. Bolivar Torres; P.J. Boston; R. Bruner; B.C. Clark; P. DasSarma; A.E. Engelhart; Z.E. Gallegos; Z.K. Garvin; P.J. Gasda; J.H. Green; R.L. Harris; M.E. Hoffman; T. Kieft; A.H.D. Koeppel; P.A. Lee; X. Li; K.L. Lynch; R. Mackelprang; P.R. Mahaffy; L.H. Matthies; M.A. Nellessen; H.E. Newsom; D.E. Northup; B.R.W. O'Connor; S.M. Perl; R.C. Quinn; L.A. Rowe; B. Sauterey; M.A. Schneegurt; D. Schulze-Makuch; L.A. Scuderi; M.N. Spilde; V. Stamenković; J.A. Torres Celis; D. Viola; B.D. Wade; C.J. Walker; R.C. Wiens; A.J. Williams; J.M. Williams; J. Xu
• Keywords: Habitability; Life on Mars; Extraterrestrial Life

On November 5–8, 2019, the "Mars Extant Life: What's Next?" conference was convened in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The gathered a community of actively publishing experts disciplines related to habitability and astrobiology. Primary conclusions are as follows: A significant subset attendees concluded that there is realistic possibility Mars hosts indigenous microbial life. powerful theme permeated key search for martian extant life lies identifying exploring refugia ("oases"), where conditions either permanently or episodically significantly more hospitable than average. Based on our existing knowledge Mars, participants highlighted four potential refugium (not listed priority order): Caves, Deep Subsurface, Ices, Salts. group did not attempt reach consensus prioritization these candidate environments, but instead felt defensible would require future competitive process. Within context we identified variety geological strategies could narrow space. Additionally, summarized number measurement techniques be used detect evidence (if present). Again, it within scope prioritize techniques—that best left We specifically note sensitivity detection methods implemented if samples were returned Earth greatly exceed methodologies at Mars. Finally, important lessons guide processes can derived both from experiments carried out terrestrial laboratories analog field sites theoretical modeling.