www.marsdaily.com - Has NASA found evidence of ancient life on Mars

home - domains - www.marsdaily.com

mars news

Goto Site

https://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Has_NASA_found_evidence_of_ancient_life_on_Mars_An_expert_examines_the_latest_discovery_999.html

Site Description

Edinburgh UK (SPX) Jul 31, 2024 - NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered some intriguing signs that ancient Mars could have supported life. This news comes from the analysis of a new sample of mudstone, a type of sedimentary rock,

Example Site Content

Has NASA found evidence of ancient life on Mars - Space Daily SpaceDaily.com SpaceWar.com GPSDaily.com MarsDaily.com MoonDaily.com SaturnDaily.com SkyNightly.com SpaceMart.com Space-Travel.com Space War SpaceWar.com GPSDaily.com SpaceMart.com IndoDaily.com RussoDaily.com SinoDaily.com Terra Daily TerraDaily.com AfricaDaily.net IndoDaily.com InternDaily.com RussoDaily.com SeedDaily.com SinoDaily.com Energy Daily Energy-Daily.com BiofuelDaily.com NanoDaily.com NuclearPowerDaily.com RadarDaily.com RoboDaily.com OilGasDaily.com SolarDaily.com WindDaily.com | Advertise Subscribe Privacy About Us | Call +61 448 005 219 (SYD/AU) Has NASA found evidence of ancient life on Mars illustration only Has NASA found evidence of ancient life on Mars by Sean McMahon | Reader in Astrobiology - The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK (SPX) Jul 31, 2024 NASA's Perseverance rover has discovered some intriguing signs that ancient Mars could have supported life. This news comes from the analysis of a new sample of mudstone, a type of sedimentary rock, which is believed to have formed in the presence of water. Perseverance's main mission is to search for signs of past life in Jezero crater, which was once home to an ancient river delta. The rover is equipped with a suite of sophisticated scientific instruments designed to investigate the geology and chemistry of the Martian surface in unprecedented detail. The recent findings come from a sample drilled from a rock nicknamed "Berea" in April 2023. The sample contains evidence of carbonates and sulfates, minerals which on Earth often form in water and can preserve biosignatures - indicators that life was present when the minerals formed. But before we get too excited, it's important to remember that these minerals can form without life as well. The real test will be when these samples are brought back to Earth for detailed analysis, which is expected to happen in the 2030s as part of the Mars Sample Return program - a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency. Why carbonates and sulfates are important Carbonates (minerals containing the carbonate ion CO3?) are common on Earth and form in many different environments, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and soils. Many carbonates, such as limestone, form in water and can contain fossils of ancient life. Sulfates (minerals containing the sulfate ion SO4?) can also form in water and can indicate the presence of evaporating water bodies. On Earth, some sulfate minerals are directly associated with biological activity. Finding these minerals in Martian rocks suggests the presence of liquid water in Mars's past, and this is crucial because all known forms of life require water. What's next? Perseverance will continue to explore Jezero crater and collect samples for possible return to Earth. The hope is that the returned samples will provide definitive evidence of ancient Martian life, or at least help us understand the planet's habitability. Even if we don't find signs of life, studying Mars's geology and climate history will improve our understanding of the Red Planet and its potential to support life in the future. So, while the discovery of carbonates and sulfates in Berea is exciting, it's just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The search for life on Mars is a slow and methodical process, and it will take time and patience to uncover the Red Planet's secrets. Related Links Astrobiology - The University of Edinburgh Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.comLunar Dreams and more Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters Tweet RELATED CONTENT The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites. NASA Mars rover captures rock that could hold fossilized microbes Washington (AFP) July 26, 2024 NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has made what could be its most astonishing discovery to date: possible signs of ancient life on the Red Planet. The six-wheeled robotic explorer came across an intriguing, arrow-shaped rock dubbed "Cheyava Falls" that may harbor fossilized microbes from billions of years ago, when Mars was a watery world. Perseverance drilled into the enigmatic rock to collect a core sample on July 21, as it traversed Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley. The samples caref ... read more Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Enhanced communication for Lunar Gateway through electric field testing Scientists pin down the origins of the moon's tenuous atmosphere Lunar soil sample from Chang'e-5 showcased in Bangkok C

Websites with similar content