Some Earth-based microbes may be tougher than expected, raising new questions about survival beyond our planet.

Finding life on Mars might be closer than we thought. NASA’s Curiosity rover has yielded promising data from the Red Planet, the space agency says.

"When samples are brought back to Earth, we have to assume that they are hazardous until we can prove otherwise."

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has uncovered a diverse mix of organic molecules on Mars, including chemicals widely considered building blocks for the origin of life on Earth.

The findings reveal that the Martian surface can preserve the kinds of molecules that could serve as signs of ancient life.

This collection of organic molecules once again increases the prospect that Mars offered a home for life in the ancient past,” the mission’s project scientist, Ashwin Vasav

The possibility of life on other planets is one of the biggest mysteries in science. But what would happen if we actually found it? Our scientists are preparing for this possibility by helping to develop a new system that can analyze samples for signs of extraterrestrial life while keeping the planet safe.