Life on Mars? Tiny cells just survived shock waves and toxic soil

Mars is a harsh and unforgiving world. Any life that may have existed there in the past, or could exist today or in the future, would need to survive intense environmental stress. Two major threats stand out. One is the powerful shock waves generated when meteorites slam into the planet's surface. The other is the presence of perchlorates in the soil. These are highly reactive salts that can disrupt essential biological processes by interfering with molecular structures such as hyd...