Space
Ancient Alien Life On Martian Rocks Evidence Discovered
Michael Finn
First Posted: May 27, 2016 04:20 AM EDT
Alien life signs on Mars may be sought out in future explorations, as recent geological analysis has revealed where to start the search. While the red planet is a dusty, frigid wasteland today, evidence suggests that it used to be a wet, warm planet.
The study of alien life, led by the NASA and SETI Institute researchers, found evidence for carbonate rocks in the Huygens basin on Mars, which is a 280-mile region of low-lying terrain with impact craters. The rocks that are estimated to be 3.8 billion years of age provide a strong evidence of a marine domain with Earth-like chemistry. Even the evidence discovered in the atmosphere indicates that a vast portion of Mars' surface used to be covered by an ocean. But in order to determine if the red planet's ancient habitats were indeed Earth-like, the researchers need to find out the specific types of minerals that were present, according to Trusted Reviews.
Through high-resolution surface images, along with the spectral data gathered with Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the researchers have identified thick carbonate outcrops across the Huygen basin. This shows that the rocks are more abundant and widespread than what were thought of. According to the research team, these could be the first clues of a buried sea floor that stretches across a wide area of Mars.
The findings are considered significant for two reasons: first, Martian carbonates could preserve a record of the most habitable domain territory on Mars, which probably include ancient Martian microfossils and; second, carbonates on Earth may be produced by life forms and by evaluating isotopes in Martian carbonates, the result may reveal if they were also biological in origin.
The research team continues to dig deeper into a specific Martian carbonate chemistry, hoping to find out more about the past environments of Mars and identify the most favorable habitats for life. The data will ultimately serve as a guide to the Mars 2020 mission of NASA that aims to gather samples that will sooner of later be returned to Earth for more analysis, Irish Examiner reported.
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First Posted: May 27, 2016 04:20 AM EDT
Alien life signs on Mars may be sought out in future explorations, as recent geological analysis has revealed where to start the search. While the red planet is a dusty, frigid wasteland today, evidence suggests that it used to be a wet, warm planet.
The study of alien life, led by the NASA and SETI Institute researchers, found evidence for carbonate rocks in the Huygens basin on Mars, which is a 280-mile region of low-lying terrain with impact craters. The rocks that are estimated to be 3.8 billion years of age provide a strong evidence of a marine domain with Earth-like chemistry. Even the evidence discovered in the atmosphere indicates that a vast portion of Mars' surface used to be covered by an ocean. But in order to determine if the red planet's ancient habitats were indeed Earth-like, the researchers need to find out the specific types of minerals that were present, according to Trusted Reviews.
Through high-resolution surface images, along with the spectral data gathered with Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the researchers have identified thick carbonate outcrops across the Huygen basin. This shows that the rocks are more abundant and widespread than what were thought of. According to the research team, these could be the first clues of a buried sea floor that stretches across a wide area of Mars.
The findings are considered significant for two reasons: first, Martian carbonates could preserve a record of the most habitable domain territory on Mars, which probably include ancient Martian microfossils and; second, carbonates on Earth may be produced by life forms and by evaluating isotopes in Martian carbonates, the result may reveal if they were also biological in origin.
The research team continues to dig deeper into a specific Martian carbonate chemistry, hoping to find out more about the past environments of Mars and identify the most favorable habitats for life. The data will ultimately serve as a guide to the Mars 2020 mission of NASA that aims to gather samples that will sooner of later be returned to Earth for more analysis, Irish Examiner reported.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone