The potential existence of martians and other extraterrestrial life has long been a point of fascination for the human species. The idea that we might not be alone as the only living beings in this big, beautiful universe is something that’s come up again and again in pop culture over the past several decades, with movies like “Mars Attacks!” and “War of the Worlds,” among others.

NASA has once again reignited that fascination in recent weeks with an exciting discovery from Mars — the potential for life. 

In a news release from earlier this month, the organization explained that its Mars rover Perseverance, initially launched in July 2020, discovered a piece of Martian rock with what appeared to be potential biosignatures. Biosignatures are substances or structures that suggest an organic, or living, presence in the area.

“Today, we are really showing you how we are kind of one step closer to answering humanity’s, one of their most profound questions, and that is, are we truly alone in the universe?” Nicky Fox, an associate administrator at NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said.

However, NASA’s missions on Mars, in pursuit of answers, might be coming to an untimely end as potential budget cuts loom over the various researchers, engineers and others who keep these discoveries about our universe coming. The coming year’s NASA budget, as proposed by the Trump administration, would cut 25% of NASA’s funding when compared to this year, making it the lowest NASA budget since 1961 when adjusted for inflation.

This budget cut, alongside the loss of several important scientists, administrators and others within NASA in response to the ongoing depletion of resources, funding and general lack of care from the federal government, puts dozens of NASA missions, including the Perseverance mission, at risk of being shut down completely.

In addition, scientists both within and outside NASA are concerned about the potential decline in research quality and safety that may occur if this budget is implemented.

Luckily, though, all is not lost. The House of Representatives has proposed its own budget plan, with far fewer cuts to NASA’s funding. This budget prevents the suspension of spacecraft missions, such as the Perseverance rover, while also ensuring that vital safety precautions necessary for producing good science can be maintained.

However, this new budget does not erase the intent behind the original budget cuts, and it certainly does not undo the billions of dollars in research funding for other STEM-related fields that have been halted, reduced or otherwise eliminated by the Trump administration. Billions in funding for cancer research, women’s health research, climate research and many other fields are being taken away by an administration that wants to see STEM and the everyday people that STEM research benefits suffer.

Suppose we wish for our scientists, researchers, engineers and other talented individuals to be able to answer the big questions, such as, “Are we alone in the universe?” In that case, the current administration must provide them with the funding to do so.