NASA’s Mars rover has made a significant discovery of potential life indicators on the red planet, including evidence of free-flowing water and conditions that suggest the presence of living organisms.
Researchers have identified 24 minerals in the Jezero Crater that indicate past volcanic rocks altered by interactions with water. This alteration process transformed the rocks into salts and clay, indicating habitable environments in the crater on multiple occasions throughout Mars’ history.
The study, led by Rice University, revealed that Mars experienced different episodes of environmental conditions suitable for life. These episodes included high-temperature acidic water, neutral conditions over a larger area, and low-temperature alkaline conditions, which are considered highly conducive to supporting life.
The Jezero Crater, where NASA’s Perseverance rover is currently exploring, is a 28-mile-wide region on Mars believed to have once been an ancient lake and river delta. Using advanced tools like the Mineral Identification by Stoichiometry (MIST) algorithm and the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL), researchers were able to analyze the minerals present in the crater.
The minerals found in the crater suggest a transition from harsh, acidic conditions to more neutral and alkaline environments over time, which are more favorable for life. This evolution of conditions in the crater provides valuable insights into Mars’ past habitability and the potential for life on the planet.
Co-author Kirsten Siebach noted that while the hot, acidic conditions in the past may have been challenging for life, similar extreme environments on Earth still support microbial life. The presence of minerals like sepiolite in the crater indicates a shift towards conditions that are more supportive of life.
The research team’s analysis using MIST not only enhances our understanding of Mars but also creates a mineralogical record of the Jezero Crater, which could be crucial if samples are eventually brought back to Earth for further study.