Right. But in this particular case it doesn’t make sense. If microbial life were found on, say, Mars then that would be a discovery by NASA, which is a civilian agency. As far as I’m aware you don’t need a security clearance to work at a civilian agency.
On the other hand if the US found some unknown craft flying in their sky that would immediately become a military matter and so be classified by default
Right. But in this particular case it doesn’t make sense. If microbial life were found on, say, Mars then that would be a discovery by NASA, which is a civilian agency. As far as I’m aware you don’t need a security clearance to work at a civilian agency.
On the other hand if the US found some unknown craft flying in their sky that would immediately become a military matter and so be classified by default