Duh

So we did it! On Sunday night our NASA lander made it to the surface of Mars, this time to stand still and analyze soil in a location sure to have actual water present. We have spectacular photos this time, taken from a separate orbiter, of the lander descending to the surface with it's parachute filled. Absolutely fantastic.

One of the science commentators made an interesting remark. He said (paraphrasing) that while the equatorial rovers we've had up there for the last 4 years have found significant evidence of the historic presence of water, even a salty sea, they have found no evidence of life itself...just elements that make life possible. This new polar mission will actually touch Martian water. He explained that if they find what they expect, they will have all of the elements of life present, and that should reveal evidence (like the presence of organic chemicals) of life either existing or having once existed. He said that life isn't unique to our planet (doesn't that make me feel cheap) in that as they understand it, life exists when certain conditions and elements are present. (Of course, that is what we observe on Earth, to date, only on Earth). We have a lander on Mars that, as the explorers postulate, will witness those conditions that, if on Earth, will cause life to exist....

Wow. won't that be something?

The thing that he said next was what is startling and worth our thought. He said, (again, I'm paraphrasing), if we find all of the elements of life present, that life should have/would have evolved in the presence of, and there is no life or never was life, then we must conclude that life is certainly more special than we thought.

Is it sad, or what, that science is at the point that it will be surprised to find out life is special...unique...

What do you think the answer will be?