Experts have discovered that three billion years ago, Mars had a climate similar to that on Earth. On the Red Planet, the alternating wet and dry periods may have made conditions suitable for life.
Mars may have alternated between dry and wet periods billions of years ago. | Photo: Shutterstock
The question is whether was there ever life on mars, has always fascinated scientists. Thanks to new fossil finds, they are now close to the truth. They indicate that the Red Planet may have had suitable conditions in the past for the formation of organic compounds, which are considered to be the precursors of life.
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For a new study published in the journal Nature stands a team of experts from the French National Center for Scientific Research, Université Paul Sabatier and Université Claude-Bernard-Lyon-I in France. Researchers according to the paper Independent analyzed data from the American rover Curiosity National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The US space agency’s rover is targeting Gale Crater, which is also the bottom of an ancient lake. Scientists have previously revealed that Curiosity has collected evidence of organic molecules. In the current study, experts used mainly information from devices Mastcam and ChemCam, which analyze salt deposits in the crater.
What Gale Crater looks like through the eyes of the Curiosity rover:
Source: Youtube
Surprising evidence
Scientists were mainly surprised by the cracks in the dried mud. They discovered that they have a hexagonal or hexagonal structure, which they say is the first evidence of a permanent, cyclical and regular climate with dry and wet periods. “When the lake dries up, the mud cracks, and when it fills up again, the cracks renew. Repeat this process often and the cracks will arrange themselves into hexagons,” explained lead study author William Rapin.
It provides such an environment ideal conditions for the formation of complex compounds that are present in living cells. Experts have even confirmed that repeated hydration and dehydration is linked to the development of biomolecules that are part of DNA. Climate conditions similar to those on Earth could thus prevail on Mars. The environment on the Red Planet may have been favorable for probiotic evolution in the past.
A dramatic transformation
Although the planet Mars is inhospitable and cold today, earlier studies have already revealed that it was once habitable water occur and dense atmosphere. Portal Vice adds that Mars was wet and warm for the first billion years. But then its magnetic field, including its atmosphere, collapsed, and as a result its surface began to dry out. Conditions on the planet have become dry and unsuitable for life.
Signs of life at the bottom of the crater? Scientists have discovered organic molecules on Mars
Despite all the discoveries, experts have never confirmed that they are on the Red Planet alien life forms. If there really was life on Mars, it wouldn’t be according to the portal france24 about green creatures, but rather about primitive single-celled microorganisms.
Unlike on Earth, some regions of Mars have well-preserved terrain with abundant fossil rivers and lakes billions of years old, according to the science team. On the Earth, on the other hand, there are tectonic plates that move and reshape the landscape. Due to high geological activity, the Blue Planet practically wiped out everything evidence for the origin of life. Mars thus preserves a “probiotic” environment that can shed light on the natural conditions for the emergence of life, even on Earth.
Mars was once very similar to Earth:
Source: Youtube
2023-08-11 03:20:31
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