Is there life on Mars? The definitive answer is not yet there. But a new discovery signed Perseverancethe rover of the Nasa operational on the red planet since 2021, reopens the possibility that billions of years ago really existed something alive.
During a series of analysis in an ancient river area, the Rover found minerals related to organic carbon: an element that, on earth, is associated with microorganisms that feed on organic matter. According to scientists, the so -called could be “Biofime”that is, traces left by life forms. But to know with certainty many other studies will be needed.
The champions come from the jezero crater
The area affected by the discovery is located in Neretva Vallisan ancient channel that once brought water to the Jezero crater. Here, the rover perforated some young sedimentary rocksin the training called Bright Angelnotes for their reddish color and the presence of iron rich clays.
It is precisely from one of these champions, collected last summer, that the surprise arrives: iron phosphate, iron sulphide and organic carbon. All elements that, on earth, are also formed as a by -product of microbes.
In practice, according to the study published on Nature and led by Joel A. Hurowitz of the Stony Brook University, these “Chemical bricks” they could be compatible with biological processes. But be careful: Hurowitz stresses that this is not yet a life test:
One of the possible explanations is the existence of ancient microbial lifebut there are also other ways in which those compounds may have trained, without the need for life.
Also two independent experts, Janice Bishop of the Seti Institute e Mario Parente of the University of Massachusetts, invite to caution:
It is an important clue, but we cannot say “it is the proof we were looking for”. To get clearer answers, it would be needed report those champions on earth.
And here the problems begin: when Perseverance was launched in 2020, the idea was to return the champions by 2030. But the costs went up to over 11 billion dollars And the project was postponed At the years 2040with No budget currently availableas NASA’s number one admitted Sean Duffy. The agency is now looking for cheaper solutions To bring the champions back first, but nothing is certain.
What really does persevering on Mars do?
Perseverances cannot directly seek life forms, but is designed for identify the places that once could have hosted it. It is equipped with a drillcollects rock samples and retains them in sealed pipesthat one day they could be recovered.
Until today he has collected 30 samplesand that described in the study is the 25thconsidered the most promising so far. The analyzes indicate that The chemical structures found resemble those left by microorganisms on earthespecially in Antarctic lakes.
As bishop and relative write, if those microbes had also existed on Mars, they could have changed the sulphate minerals in a very similar way, leaving Traces still detectable today.
And if in the end it was discovered that there was no life? Hurowitz replies:
However, it would be a useful discovery. Would help us understand How nature can imitate life. And this, in the search for extraterrestrial life forms, is a fundamental step.
