Curiosity Rover's Proximity To Possible Water Raises Planetary Protection Concerns

After four years on Mars, the Curiosity rover has made some pretty impressive discoveries. These have ranged from characterizing what Mars' atmosphere was like billions of years ago to discovering organic molecules and methane there today. But arguably the biggest discovery Curiosity has made has been uncovering evidence of warm, flowing water on Mars' surface. Unfortunately, now faced with what could be signs of water directly in its path, NASA is forced to enact strict protocols. These signs t...