Sums of squares of regular functions on real algebraic varieties

Let be an affine algebraic variety over (or any other real closed field ). We ask when it is true that every positive semidefinite (psd) polynomial function on is a sum of squares (sos). We show that for the answer is always negative if has a real point. Also, if is a smooth non-rational curve all of whose points at infinity are real, the answer is again negative. The same holds if is a smooth surface with only real divisors at infinity. The ``compact' case is harder. We completely settle the case of smooth curves of genus : If such a curve has a complex point at infinity, then every psd function is sos, provided the field is archimedean. If is not archimedean, there are counter-examples of genus .