Could there have been life on Mars? A new study by NASA researchers, published in the journal Astrobiology, suggests that non-biological sources alone struggle to explain the abundance of organic compounds found in Martian rock samples. If further research confirms the presence of past life on the Red Planet, it would be humanity’s most significant discovery.
The findings stem from analysis of rock samples collected by the Curiosity rover on Mars in . Scientists have been closely examining the organic materials within these samples, as detailed in a NASA report.
The article published in Astrobiology states that, because the non-biological sources considered could not fully account for the abundance of organic compounds, it is reasonable to hypothesize that living organisms could have formed them.
To reach this conclusion, researchers combined laboratory radiation experiments, mathematical modeling and data from Curiosity to “rewind the clock” approximately 80 million years – the length of time the rock would have been exposed on the Martian surface. This allowed them to estimate the amount of organic material present before long-term exposure to cosmic radiation caused its degradation. The result indicated that if the current levels have persisted for that long, there must have been significantly more organic material present originally than typical non-biological processes could produce.
The Red Planet’s Wet Past
Mars remains one of the most intriguing celestial bodies in our solar system. Evidence suggests it once had liquid water on its surface and may have been habitable. Early Mars may have resembled Earth, potentially even a blue planet. Today, Mars is commonly known as the “Red Planet” due to the presence of iron oxides, or rust. But this hasn’t always been the case.
“Mars once had a large global magnetic field, which is very important for life because it acts as a shield against high-energy radiation from space. Earth still has this magnetic field,” explained Zoltán Fockter, a demonstrator astronomer at the Svábhegyi Observatory, in an interview with Jazzy radio.
Mars lost this magnetic field, leaving it vulnerable to radiation, which essentially scorched the planet, transforming it into the cold, desert landscape we see today. However, this wasn’t always the case. Many researchers believe that during the early stages of the solar system’s development, Mars had the conditions necessary for life to emerge.
Some theories even suggest that life may have originated on Mars and later been transferred to Earth via an asteroid impact, a concept known as the panspermia theory. Many articles note that there is no definitive proof that life originated on Earth.
“It is easily possible that life originated on Mars,” Fockter stated.
Carbon Compounds and Life
The Curiosity rover has discovered significant amounts of organic material on Mars. However, this does not necessarily indicate the presence of life. Organic materials are essentially carbon compounds, and these are the building blocks of life.
Organic materials are also found in space, such as on the surfaces of comets or in vast interstellar clouds. Their presence has been detected in star-forming regions using spectroscopic methods, and they can be created through various chemical processes independent of life.
NASA scientists involved in the research on the long-chain organic molecules found on Mars note that life is likely involved, but a geochemical or chemical process not yet understood could also be responsible. It is not possible to state with 100% certainty that what has been found was created by life.
However, on Earth, these types of materials are associated with life. The discovery suggests that life may once have existed on Mars, assuming Earth-like properties. But Mars is not Earth, a point Fockter emphasized. There may be factors that science does not yet understand.
Life on Mars – Humanity’s Greatest Discovery
“If life were to be proven on Mars, it would demonstrate that life is resilient enough to survive in a Martian environment and is a more common phenomenon than we currently believe.”
Proving life on Mars would be a world-view-altering discovery. There is a theory that microbial or bacterial life may still exist deep underground, shielded from radiation. This is currently being investigated, but the deepest drilling to date has only reached 60 centimeters. More substantial drilling equipment, capable of reaching depths of 6-10 meters, would be required for a more thorough investigation.
“One thing is certain: the concentration of organic material detected in this amount cannot be explained by impacts from asteroids or comets.”
Investigations are ongoing, but this is the first significant publication suggesting that life may once have existed on our neighboring planet.