These "planetary protection" requirements impose heavy financial burdens on missions, partially explaining why no robots have searched for life on the Red Planet's surface since NASA's twin Viking landers ceased operations three decades ago, researchers Alberto Fairen of Cornell University and Dirk Schulze-Makuch of Washington State University write in a commentary published online today (June 27) in the journal Nature Geoscience.

Further, such restrictions are unnecessary, because Earth life has doubtless made it to the neighboring Red Planet already inside chunks of rock blasted off our planet by asteroid strikes, the scientists say. []

"If Earth micro-organisms can thrive on Mars, they almost certainly already do; and if they cannot, the should be of no concern, as it would simply not survive," Fairen and Schulze-Makuch write in the commentary. "We cannot see how our current program of Mars exploration might pose any real threat to a possible Martian biosphere."

Wondolowski with his jersey name spelled correctly this time scored two more goals to raise his total to five in two matches, and the Americans overcame a slow start to beat Cuba 4-1 Saturday and advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals. He became the first American with five goals in one Gold Cup tournament.

Landon Donovan tied the score late in the first half when converted his second penalty kick of the tournament for his 53rd international goal. Joe Corona got his first international goal early in the second, and Stuart Holden made his first start in nearly three years for the U.S. (2-0), which has reached the quarterfinals of all 12 Gold Cups.

The US won its seventh straight game, tying a team record set in June 2007.

While Wondolowski has led or tied Major League Soccer in goals for three straight seasons, he hadn't scored for the national team in 11 appearances before getting his first in an exhibition win over Guatemala on July 5.

"I'm very confident in my play," Wondolowski said. "Just even getting the goals is so huge. I'm feeling more confident in my passing and in my touch and things like that where it's helping me raise my level."

Wondolowski scored a first-half hat trick in Tuesday's 6-1 win over Belize, when his jersey was misspelled "Wondowlowski." He started this match on the bench, then replaced Herculez Gomez in the 58th and scored the final two goals in the 66th and 85th minutes. Superstitious, the 30-year-old San Jose forward had an extra "W'' stitched on the inside of his jersey.

"Wondo is doing wonderful," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "It's just a joy to see him every day, in training and now getting his goals that he was waiting for such a long time for and now they're coming. He was a bit disappointed when I told him that he's not coming off the start right away, but I told him 'We got to keep your goals for the second half,' which he did."

Wondolowski, Donovan and Holden all are making a case to be included in the player pool for World Cup qualifiers at Costa Rica on Sept. 6 and at home against Mexico four days later.

"The benchmark for us now starts with Costa Rica," Klinsmann said. "We're looking forward to that match. We need now games where we're eye-to-eye with the opponent."

Donovan, a veteran of three World Cups hasn't played for the national team in 11 months before the Guatemala match because of injuries and a four-month sabbatical from soccer that ended in late March.

Holden made his first start for the U.S. since an exhibition against Colombia on Oct. 12, 2010. A knee injury the following March sustained from a tackle by Manchester United's Jonny Evans limited the Bolton midfielder to one club match in the next 22 months.

The Americans, who have not won the North and Central American and Caribbean championship since 2007, complete the first round Tuesday against Costa Rica in East Hartford, Conn., then play their quarterfinal at Baltimore on July 21.

Cuba, ranked 82nd by FIFA a full 60 spots behind the U.S. gave the Americans an unexpected test.

Before a crowd of 17,597 at Rio Tinto Stadium, Jose Ciprian Alfonso put Cuba (0-2) ahead in the 36th minute. He beat defender Oguchi Onyewu to a cutback pass from Ariel Martinez, who has rounded left back Edgar Castillo near the end line. Ciprian Alfonso then sent a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

Donovan tied the score in the second minute of stoppage time with a penalty kick, extending his U.S. scoring record.

Corona finally gave the Americans lead in the 57th when he latched onto a loose ball and let loose a curling a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

"We were trying to get a quick goal in the second half, so we could get that confidence back and try to play our game and try to get more goals," Corona said.

Wondolowski made it 3-1 with his a close-range flick off a cross from Kyle Beckerman. He finished off the scoring from the center of the penalty area.

"It's such a huge honor, any time you put on that jersey, any time I see that jersey, it just gives me chills and I love being a part of it," Wondolowski said.

NOTES: The Americans are 27-1-2 in the group phase of the Gold Cup, the only loss 2-1 to Panama two years ago. ... The U.S. improved to 8-1-1 against Cuba. .. Donovan has a Gold Cup-record 15 goals. ... Cuba is winless in 12 straight Gold Cup matches. ... Holden, Gomez, Castillo and Onyewu were among six changes. Tony Beltran took over at right back and Brek Shea started in midfield. Going to the bench along with Wondolowski were right back Michael Parkhurst, central defender Clarence Goodson, left back DaMarcus Beasley and midfielders Jose Torres and Mix Diskerud. Torres replaced Shea at the start of the second half and Diskerud took over for Holden in the 58th. ... A former youth player for Norway, Diskerud became tied to the U.S. team when he started against Belize. ... Onyewu was captain for the second time and first since the Colombia match three years ago. ... Costa Rica beat Belize 1-0 in the second game on an own goal by Dalton Eiley in the 49th minute.

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Universal Pictures will release the Angelina Jolie-directed "Unbroken" on December 25, 2014.

"Unbroken" is set to begin production in September.

"Unbroken" marks Jolie's second turn behind the camera, after her directorial debut, 2011's Golden Globe Award-nominated "In the Land of Blood and Honey."

Based on The New York Times bestselling book "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption" by Laura Hillenbrand ("Seabiscuit: An American Legend").

Jolie, who is joined on the project by fellow producers Matthew Baer ("City by the Sea") and Erwin Stoff ("The Day the Earth Stood Still"), has been a fierce champion of bringing the story of Louis "Louie" Zamperini' s bravery to the big screen.

Originally published by Random House in 2010, the book follows the life story of Olympian and war hero Zamperini who, along with two other crewmen, survived in a raft for 47 days after a near-fatal plane crash in WWII - only to be caught by the Japanese Navy and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.

"I've had the privilege of spending a great deal of time with Louie Zamperini, who is a hero of mine, and now - I am proud to say - dear friend," said Jolie. "I am deeply honored to be telling his extraordinary story, and I will do my absolute best to give him the film he deserves. I am grateful to Universal for making this film a priority."

The behind-the-scenes team will be led by 10-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins ("Skyfall"), who comes aboard as director of photography, and Jon Hutman ("In the Land of Blood and Honey"), who reteams with Jolie as the film's production designer.

But the obstacles to an agreement were clear during the annual State of the Nation debate in Parliament as parties traded accusations over who is to blame for the financial crisis and 10 straight quarters of economic contraction.

Portugal's president appealed to the parties Wednesday to find broad political consensus after a dispute over austerity measures tore the coalition government apart and raised questions about whether the country can abide by the terms of the 78 billion euros ($102 billion) rescue it received two years ago.

Portugal's difficulties over the past two weeks sent a chill through financial markets as investors feared that Europe's debt crisis could flare up again. In recent months, there had been signs that the 17 European Union countries that use the euro, including Portugal, had got over the worst of their three-year debt problems.

The political upheaval in Lisbon has forced the postponement of the bailout lenders' latest assessment on the country, which was due to begin next week but is now due to take place at the end of August.

As in Greece, the debt inspectors have to assess whether Portugal is complying with the terms of the bailout agreement in return for the loan, Portugal has to enact a long list of spending cuts and economic reforms. If it doesn't, the creditors can potentially stop disbursing the money due from the bailout fund.

Though Portugal has enough cash to see it through the end of this year, it has to issue bonds worth 14 billion euros and 15 billion euros in 2014 and 2015, respectively, to service maturing loans. The three major international ratings agencies still classify Portugal's credit worthiness at junk status.

The political uncertainty took its toll on the Lisbon stock exchange which closed down 1.1 percent Friday at 5,364, after losing 2 percent the previous day. The interest rate on Portugal's 10-year bonds, an indicator of how risky investors see the country, climbed to 7.38 percent from 6.79 percent Thursday. A rate of more than 7 percent is regarded as unaffordable and exceeding that threshold compelled Portugal to seek a financial lifeline from its euro partners and International Monetary Fund.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who has no executive powers but is tasked by the constitution with ensuring stable government, said the ruling coalition had lost its credibility after last week's resignations of the finance and foreign ministers in a spat over the scale of planned spending cuts.

Saying a snap election would make things worse, Cavaco Silva urged the three main parties to find common ground on financial policy which would last beyond the end of the bailout program in June 2014. That, he said, would restore the political stability financial markets want.

Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho told lawmakers during Friday's debate that parties must "put Portugal first" and thrash out a cross-party agreement.

"To reach a deal we just need to focus on the country's needs and the common interests of the Portuguese," he said.

Though conceding that it "won't be easy to get a credible and long-lasting agreement," he said a lot can be achieved "if we just compromise."

Antonio Jose Seguro, leader of the main opposition Socialist Party, agreed to take part in talks but was sharply critical of the government's record and repeated his view that the best solution would be immediate elections for a new government.

He said the government "is in a state of decomposition," telling the prime minister he should "apologize to the Portuguese for the failure of his policies."

The prime minister's Social Democratic Party, the senior partner in the coalition, and Portugal's bailout creditors say spending cuts must continue.

Other parties want a bigger emphasis on growth amid a 17.6 percent unemployment rate.

LONDON (AP) -- A British man was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in jail for threatening to kill 200 people in a Facebook posting that caused thousands of Tennessee children to stay home from school.

Reece Elliott from South Shields in northeast England pleaded guilty in April to making malicious comments.

The online posting threatening gun violence was made anonymously in February on a memorial page set up for a Tennessee student who had died.

Judge James Goss sentenced 24-year-old Elliott to two years and four months in prison, telling him the "grossly offensive" comments were driven by "no more than self-indulgent nastiness."

Elliott, who wept upon sentencing, had written of killing his father first then "going in fast."

"I'm gonna kill hopefully at least 200 before I kill myself," he posted on the memorial page. "So you want to tell the deputy, I'm on my way."

The threat led to 2,900 children missing class in Warren County amid heightened tensions following the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, which killed 26 people.

Defense lawyer John Wilkinson told the judge at Newcastle Crown Court that Elliott could not explain his behavior, which the defendant called "idiotic, childish and pathetic."

Detectives said they were about to arrest Elliott before he turned himself in at a police station.

Hours after police arrested Hernandez in connection with a homicide probe Wednesday, the Patriots cut the tight end who had signed a five-year deal with New England just last summer.

"Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation. We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing," the team said in a statement. "We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do."

Hernandez was taken from his home in handcuffs early Wednesday, more than a week after a Boston semi-pro football player was found dead in an industrial park a mile from Hernandez's house.

Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old member of the Boston Bandits, was found slain June 17. Officials ruled the death a homicide but did not say how Lloyd died.

The NFL released a statement expressing sympathy to Lloyd's family.

"The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling. The Patriots have released Aaron Hernandez, who will have his day in court," it read. "At the same time, we should not forget the young man who was the victim in this case and take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathy to Odin Lloyd's family and friends."

The 23-year-old Hernandez was an All-American at Florida and part of a tight end duo in New England that was among the league's most productive.

But heading into the 2010 NFL draft at least one team said it took him off its draft board refusing to select him under any circumstances and all of the other teams in the league bypassed him repeatedly as he fell to New England in the fourth round.

Afterward, Hernandez said he had failed a single drug test in college reportedly for marijuana and was up front with teams about it.

Ever since he became entangled in the investigation into Lloyd's death, other off-field issues have become public.

A South Florida man filed a lawsuit last week claiming Hernandez shot him in the face after they argued at a strip club. The man, who lost his right eye, told police after the February incident that he did not know who shot him.

The Boston Globe reported that Hernandez lost his temper and threatened teammate Wes Welker during an argument in the team's weight room shortly after being drafted.

Hernandez became a father to a daughter on Nov. 6, and he said it made him think.

"I'm engaged now and I have a baby. So it's just going to make me think of life a lot differently and doing things the right way," he said. "Now, another one is looking up to me. I can't just be young and reckless Aaron no more. I'm going to try to do the right things, become a good father and (have her) be raised like I was raised."

The loss of Hernandez deprives the Patriots of the second half of one of the league's best tight end tandems. Fellow Pro Bowl selection Rob Gronkowski has had five operations this offseason on his back and broken left forearm.

Hernandez was chosen for the Pro Bowl in 2011, when he caught 79 passes for 910 yards and seven touchdowns. He missed 10 games last season with an ankle injury.

In 38 games over his three NFL seasons, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound Hernandez has 175 receptions for 1,956 yards and 18 touchdowns. Last summer, the Patriots gave Hernandez a five-year contract worth $41 million just months after the team locked up Gronkowski through 2019.

"Aaron's improved a lot," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said at the time. "He's worked hard, he's improved a lot in all phases of the game the passing game, the running game, protection and his overall versatility. He's doing a good job for us."

Despite the size that makes him a capable blocker, Hernandez has the speed and moves of a wide receiver and is elusive after making a catch.

Born in Bristol, Conn., Hernandez played at Bristol High School before attending Florida, where he won the John Mackey Award as the nation's best tight end as a junior in 2009. He was college teammates with two current Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow and linebacker Brandon Spikes on the team that won the national championship in 2009.

Hernandez had shoulder surgery in April, but was expected to be ready for training camp. The Patriots did not say which shoulder was operated on.

Scherzer remained unbeaten and Victor Martinez hit a two-run double in the 10th inning as the Tigers extended their lead in the AL Central with a 4-2 win over the second-place Cleveland Indians on Monday night.

Martinez doubled off Matt Albers (2-1) as the Tigers won three of four in the series and moved 3 games ahead in the division.

Scherzer, attempting to become the first pitcher since Roger Clemens in 1986 to open a season 14-0, finished with a no-decision. He allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. The presumed AL starter in next week's All-Star game will take his unblemished mark into a start on Saturday against Texas.

"I don't want to focus much on that (being 13-0)," he said. "This was our best win of the year, and I was proud to be a part of it. The Indians battled so hard tonight and brought their 'A' game, and we did, too.

"It was just a great team win, our best of the year."

Drew Smyly (4-0) worked out of a jam in the ninth and Joaquin Benoit pitched the 10th for his seventh save, striking out Mike Aviles with runners at first and third to end the game.

Matt Tuiasosopo homered for the Tigers, now 9-3 against the Indians.

Detroit was able to widen its lead over Cleveland by two games on this visit, but manager Jim Leyland knows champions aren't crowned in July.

"We came in and had a very good series against a very good team, but I'm not really concerned about the standings," Leyland said. "Of course, I'd rather leave here up 3 games than up 1 games. But trust me, the Indians are not going anywhere, and we're not going anywhere, I don't think."

Albers got two quick outs in the 10th before walking Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. Martinez followed with a drive over the head of center fielder Michael Bourn. The ball caromed off the wall, far enough away for two of Detroit's slowest runners to score. After Fielder slid across the plate, he popped up from the dirt and swung his arm in celebration.

The Indians had been 5-0 in extra-inning games.

Cleveland came in with a reputation for beating Cy Young Award winners. The Indians have defeated seven former recipients this season, including Detroit's Justin Verlander. Scherzer is clearly the midseason favorite to win the AL honor in 2013, and while the Indians didn't hand him a loss, they did prevent him from beating them for the third time this year.

Scherzer wasn't at his best, and he was noticeably agitated on a night when the rain never really stopped. However, the 28-year-old got stronger as the game wore on. He gave up both runs on a two-run single in the second by Lonnie Chisenhall and five hits in the first three innings, and pitched out of a couple of jams he created.

"He used to be a thrower and now he's a pitcher," Indians first baseman Nick Swisher said. "You've got a guy with all those weapons and he starts to figure it out, that doesn't make anybody happy."

After getting out of a first-and-third bind in the fifth, Scherzer got in a groove and struck out four of the final five batters he faced. In the seventh, he gave up a single to Bourn, who was caught stealing. Scherzer then struck out Asdrubal Cabrera and blew a 97 mph fastball past All-Star second baseman Jason Kipnis to end the inning on his 117th pitch.

Scherzer screamed and pumped his fist as he headed to the dugout, slapping hands with catcher Brayan Pena before taking a seat to watch the Tigers hit.

"You can usually judge your outing on the last 15 pitches, and I thought I finished pretty strong," Scherzer said.

Cleveland's Scott Kazmir went pitch for pitch with Scherzer, allowing just two runs and four hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Kazmir held the top four hitters Austin Jackson, Torii Hunter, Cabrera and Fielder in one of baseball's most feared lineups without a hit in 11 at-bats. The only one of the four to reach base was Cabrera, who walked with one out in the third.

With both the Indians and weather threatening in the second, the game was delayed by rain.

Thunder rumbled nearby and lightning flashed above Progressive Field as Scherzer battled Chisenhall with runners at second and third and two outs. The game was halted on a 2-2 count, and when play resumed 20 minutes later, Chisenhall jumped all over Scherzer's first pitch, ripping a changeup to right for a two-run single.

When he returned to the dugout, Scherzer slammed his glove and cap down in disgust. After the game, he said he was upset that umpire Joe West did not let him finish the at-bat to Chisenhall.

He was mad again in the third, when the Indians loaded the bases on a pair of two-out singles and walk. But Scherzer snagged a comebacker by Aviles and carefully underhanded the ball to first for the final out.

The Indians had their chances against Scherzer, and stranded 10 runners in all.

"It's just kind of one of those games," Swisher said. "We left a small village on the sacks. We've got to do a little better job there, but that's how baseball goes."

NOTES: The Tigers have won 12 of the last 16 against the Indians, outscoring them 100-59 during that stretch. ... Tigers 2B Omar Infante (bruised shin) sat out his fifth straight game, but remains day to day. ... Scherzer had his 19th straight start without a loss, passing Bobo Newsom for the franchise record. ... Detroit went 7-4 on its longest trip this season. The Tigers open a three-game series against the last-place White Sox on Tuesday with Verlander (9-5) facing Jose Quintana (3-2).

Sarah Guyard-Guillot was pronounced dead late Saturday night at a hospital after falling about 50 feet from the show's stage.

Witnesses told the Las Vegas Sun (http://bit.ly/14H3Te0 ) that the accident occurred near the end of the production Saturday night at the MGM Grand.

Visitor Dan Mosqueda of Colorado Springs, Colo., said the 31-year-old acrobatic performer was being hoisted up the side of the stage when it appeared that she slipped free of her safety wire and plummeted to an open pit below the stage.

"Initially, a lot of people in the audience thought it was part of the (show)," he told the Sun. "But you could hear screaming, then groaning, and we could hear a female artist crying from the stage."

The show momentarily continued, then stopped. Minutes after the accident, a recorded announcement informed audience members that refunds or vouchers to future shows would be offered, and the crowd was dismissed.

Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte issued a statement Sunday praising Guyard-Guillot and saying performances of "Ka" have been canceled until further notice.

Guyard-Guillot, a mother of two children, had been with the original cast of "Ka" since 2006, and had been an acrobatic performer for over 20 years.

"I am heartbroken. I wish to extend my sincerest sympathies to the family. We are all completely devastated," Laliberte said. "We are reminded with great humility and respect how extraordinary our artists are each and every night. Our focus now is to support each other as a family."

Cirque officials are working with authorities investigating the accident and have offered their full cooperation, he added.

The Clark County Coroner's Office will rule on the cause of death.

The MGM Grand also issued a statement concerning the accident.

"Our company is deeply saddened by the loss of one of the talented KA artists Saturday night," it reads. "The thoughts and prayers of our employees are with the performer's family, the cast of KA, and the entire Cirque family during this difficult time."

The accident occurred while Cirque's top executives, including president Daniel Lamarre, were in Las Vegas to celebrate the premiere of "Michael Jackson One" at Mandalay Bay.

On Wednesday night, a performer in a preview performance of that show suffered a mild concussion after missing the protective pad below an act and landing on the stage. That artist is expected to return to the show.

___

Information from: Las Vegas Sun, http://www.lasvegassun.com

BRASILIA (Reuters) - President Dilma Rousseff sent Congress reform proposals on Tuesday intended to make Brazilian politics more representative in a bid to recoup popularity she lost in a wave of angry protests against the country's political establishment.

Making good on a promise in the wake of the protests that rocked Brazil in June, Rousseff asked Congress to hold a non-binding national vote, or plebiscite, to see what Brazilians want changed. In the request, she listed broad themes that she wants to see addressed, including campaign finance reform, an end to anonymous votes by lawmakers in Congress, and a possible shift from proportional representation to district voting.

Rousseff's approval ratings have declined by 27 percentage points in the past three weeks, showing that the recent wave of protests sweeping Brazil poses a serious threat to her likely re-election bid next year, according to a survey by pollster Datafolha published on Saturday.

More than 1 million people took to the streets of Brazilian cities at the peak of last month's protests, fueled by frustration with deplorable health, education and public transportation services, a high cost of living, and outrage at the $14 billion Brazil will spend to host the 2014 World Cup.

The upheaval that paralyzed the country sent politicians a clear message that Brazilians want more effective and transparent government, with an end to corruption.

While the protests were aimed at politicians of all stripes, Rousseff's popularity took a beating and the president has insisted on holding a plebiscite to consult the people.

"It's a fight for more rights, more representation," she said of the protests on Monday.

"The people want to participate, that's why we are proposing a popular vote. The people must be consulted," Rousseff told reporters.

Other issues she suggested the plebiscite address include abolishing unelected stand-ins for senators. Under the Brazilian system, all members of Congress have "substitutes" that can assume their seat if an elected congressman steps down for some reason, such as accepting a Cabinet post. Rousseff also wants the electorate to weigh in on rules that allow lawmakers to be elected with votes from supporters of other parties.

Eighty-one percent of Brazilians supported the street demonstrations demanding changes, according to the Datafolha poll, which also showed that 68 percent of respondents back the idea of holding a plebiscite.

Rousseff's political opponents, however, see the popular vote as a maneuver to distract the country from the real issues of lack of investment in roads, airports, schools and hospitals, and regain support before next year's election.

Senator Alvaro Dias, leader of the main opposition party in the Senate, PSDB, said most of Rousseff's reform proposals - such whether to have public instead of private campaign funding - are dealt with in existing congressional bills. He said a hastily called plebiscite is an unnecessary expense for the nation.

"These are not the priority issues for Brazilians. This is a political distraction," he told reporters.

'THIS COULD BE A FIASCO'

The plebiscite also poses a risk to Rousseff. The main ally in her Workers' Party coalition government, the PMDB party, is balking at the idea and would rather see reform drawn up in Congress, which it controls.

"This could be a fiasco," said Andre Cesar, a political analyst at Brasilia-based consultancy Prospectiva Consultoria.

"There is a risk that the vote will not happen. Or worse, this could open a Pandora's box and Congress could decide to debate ending the re-election of presidents," Cesar said.

Rousseff still has an approval rating just above 50 percent and remains the favorite to win the election in October 2014, though the race now looks more competitive.

Some political analysts believe the plebiscite is not the way to recover lost ground. In their view, Rousseff should keep focus on curbing inflation and resurrecting Brazil's economy, which has been largely stagnant for the last two years.

Smaller protests continue around Brazil, but a catalyst for the massive demonstrations has gone. The Confederations Cup, a warm-up for next year's soccer World Cup, ended on Sunday.

Other challenges exist. Some of Brazil's main labor unions, seeking to take advantage of the tense political climate, are planning a day of marches on July 11 to push their demands, such as a shorter work week.

(Editing by Todd Benson and Stacey Joyce)