NASA’s Mars rover has made a groundbreaking discovery, uncovering new signs of life on the red planet. The findings include evidence of 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 suggests that the crater may have hosted habitable environments multiple times throughout Mars’ history.
The different episodes of habitability in Jezero include high-temperature acidic water, followed by neutral conditions over a larger area, and finally, low-temperature alkaline conditions deemed highly conducive to life. The presence of minerals like greenalite, hisingerite, and ferroaluminoceladonite further supports these findings.
The Jezero Crater, where NASA’s Perseverance rover is currently exploring, is believed to have once been an ancient lake and river delta. Utilizing advanced algorithms and tools like MIST and PIXL, the research team was able to analyze the minerals present in the crater’s rocks.
While the harsh conditions from the first group of minerals make them less favorable for life, the second group formed in more neutral waters, covering a larger area of the crater. Minerals like Minnesotaite and Clinoptilolite were identified in these regions.
The third group of minerals, such as sepiolite, formed under cooler, alkaline conditions, which are considered ideal for supporting life. These findings suggest a transition in the environmental conditions of Jezero over time, potentially making it more habitable.
The researchers stress that despite the challenging conditions presented by some minerals, the evolution towards more neutral and alkaline environments could have provided the necessary conditions for life to thrive. The ongoing research aims to further understand the mineralogical composition of Jezero Crater, which could be crucial if samples are eventually brought back to Earth.