08. Why are there polar ice caps on Mars? Would there be any bacteria in the ice caps? (A K2S Question)

From The Space Library

In Martian winter, the poles are in continual darkness and the surface gets so cold that nearly a quarter of the planet's atmosphere condenses into thick slabs of carbon dioxide ice. During Martian spring, when the poles are again exposed to sunlight, the ice turns directly into a gas without becoming liquid, creating powerful winds as fast as 250 miles per hour (mph). It is unknown if the water or carbon dioxide ice on Mars contain any bacteria. In May 2008, the NASA Phoenix Mars lander will dig its robotic arm into Mars' northern polar terrain to search for microbes.

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Answer provided by Laura Peckyno & Robert Peckyno

Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer

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