Caves on Mars  NAU researchers find possible caves on Mars
Researchers propose these images of seven black spots near a
massive Martian volcano may actually be caves rather than impact
craters. The images were taken from the Thermal Emission Imaging
System aboard NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter. Applying techniques
used to scope out caves on Earth to probe the possibility of
caves on Mars is paying off.  NAU researchers Glen Cushing and
J. Judson Wynne, working at the U.S. Geological Survey, propose
that photos from the Mars Odyssey mission reveal football-field
size holes that could be entrances to caves.  "If there is life
on Mars, there is a good chance you'd find it in caves," said
Wynne, an NAU graduate student in biological sciences and
project leader for the USGS Earth-Mars Cave Detection Program.
He said the possible discovery could lead to more focused Mars
explorations.  Martian caves are considered the "best potential
havens for life" because they would be protected from surface
radiation and other f