Biologist Robert Wharton of the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada, US, is convinced that there once existed life on the Mars, planet. For the past 17 years, Wharton has been melting holes into the surface of Antarctic glacial lakes and diving below in search of life in any form. The surface of Mars -according to satellite reports - did contain such lakes a long time back.

Wharton is continuing his research on the premise that if living organisms could be discovered iQ Antarctic lakes, the same might have held good for the lakes on Mars. Back in 1978, Wharton and his colleagues had discovered approximately 13-cm-thick microbial mats. Since then, lichens on the surfacy sandstone and some red, purple and gold patches of bacteria, algae, fungi and protozoa, have been discovered in the lakes. But, the galactic connection may take some more time to unfold.