I Dream of Caves (on Mars)

The Search for Terrestrial Intelligence came up empty-handed again this week, as FOX NEWS carried a SPACE.com story on a large dark spot, possibly indicating a deep hole, found on Mars:

A very dark spot on Mars could be an entrance to a deep hole or cavern, according to scientists studying imagery taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The geological oddity measures some 330 feet (100 meters) across and is located on an otherwise bright dusty lava plain to the northeast of Arsia Mons[.]

Okay, that’s science—no leaps of logic or flights of fancy. Then we arrive at paragraph three:

The hole might be the sort of place that could support life[.]

"The hole might be the sort of place that could support life[.]"

A-ha! Now we know why this possible hole is receiving such attention: because it could be, just could be the habitat for that ever-so-elusive Martian life. The article goes on to explain that this possible cave “may cause more scientists to ponder about potential subsurface biology on Mars.”

Once again, faith in abiogenesis is fueling irrational exuberance in the search for extraterrestrial life. The “Mars hole” isn’t all, however; PhysOrg.com carries a UPI article, “Search for life in space getting closer,” explaining that an upcoming European Space Agency mission will scan hundreds of stars and study the light from dozens of planets for life signs. Glenn White of Open University explains the proposed goal of the appropriately named “Darwin” mission, set to launch in 2018:

“Once the mission gets up, we are pretty sure that, if there is life out there, we are going to have an extremely high probability of telling you whether life has started on a planet[.]”

White’s comment on the mission is wisely qualified with the phrase “if there is life out there.” We’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what Darwin sees.

In the (minimum) eleven-year interim, why not review Alien Life, Astronomy, and Origin of Life, which together provide powerful reminders of why Answers in Genesis doesn’t believe life has sprung (or will spring) up by chance in any part of the universe.

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