The Hunt for Life on Mars:Rock Samples Reveal How to Search for Biosignatures

We may be learning better ways to hunt for life on Mars. Scientists have examined rock samples from the Western U.S. and believe that these samples could reveal ways to find life on the Red Planet.

The hunt for life on Mars has gained momentum after the announcement that there's flowing saltwater on the Red Planet. But actually finding signs of life is another story.

"One of the many reasons this is exciting is that life as we currently now it requires water," said Alison Olcott-Marshall, one of the researchers, in a news release. "So the fact that it's present at Mars means that the most basic and universal requirement for life was fulfilled."

In this latest study, the researchers analyzed Eocene rocs found in the Green River Formation, which is a lake system extending over parts of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The scientists found that these rocks actually have features that visually indicate the presence of life, and they argue that probes to Mars should identify similar indicators on that planet and double-check them through chemical analysis.

"Once something is launched into space, it becomes much harder to do tweaks-not impossible, but much, much harder," said Olcott-Marshall. "Scientists are still debating the results of some of the life-detection experiments that flew to Mars on the Viking Missions in the late '70s, in a large part because of how the experiments were designed. Looking at Earth-based analogs lets us get some of these bumps smoothed out here on Earth, when we can revise, replicate and re-run experiments easily."

In this case, the researchers examined samples of rock from 50 million years ago that included sections of "microbial mats." In order to confirm the presence of life, they powdered the rock samples in a ball mill and then used hot organic solvents to remove any organic carbons that might have been preserved in the rock. This allowed them to identify compounds preserved in the rock.

The experiments done on Earth could be huge for finding life in other locations, such as Mars. By doing a "test run" on our planet, researchers can better prepare for space missions.

The findings are published in the journal Astrobiology.

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