QUESTION:
Actual studies are basically oriented on search of life; doesnt it restrain 
other discoveries, like finding new materials?
 
ANSWER from Mike Mellon on May 31, 2000:
Yes searching only for life on Mars does limit our search for other 
discoveries. NASA has been pushing for searching for life (which is a good 
scientific problem), but most scientists are still thinking about 
non-life problems, like geology, climate, and Mars' history.