Science is About to Confirm That Mars Had Life in the Past

Scientists are analyzing new evidence that could determine whether Mars had life in the past. Findings from NASA's Perseverance rover revealed minerals, organic compounds, and possible structures in rocks on the red planet, although there is still no definitive confirmation.

The answer could come when the collected samples are transported to Earth and examined with more advanced instruments.

In recent years, research on Mars has changed the image of the red planet. Far from always being cold and dry, studies indicate that over 3.5 billion years ago, it had liquid water on its surface, with rivers, lakes, and areas where habitable environments could have existed.

NASA's Perseverance rover, which has been exploring the Jezero crater since 2021, found sedimentary rocks formed in an ancient river delta that flowed into a lake. According to scientists, these sediments are important because they can preserve chemical traces of microscopic organisms for long periods.

Researcher Teresa Fornaro from the Arcetri Observatory of the National Institute of Astrophysics in Italy (INAF) and a participant in the Perseverance operations explained: "The combination of multiple lines of evidence - such as the discovery by NASA's Perseverance rover of minerals produced by microorganisms on Earth and complex organic matter - increases the likelihood that Mars was inhabited, at least in the past."

However, the specialist clarified that these are still not concrete signals. "It could have been organisms capable of obtaining energy from rocks," she noted, detailing: "So far we have only gathered indirect evidence. The organic matter found, for example, has a deeply altered structure, making it difficult to determine its origin; we will only have a definitive answer when we can analyze the samples on Earth."

One of the findings that generated the most interest was the analysis of the rock called Cheyava Falls, studied by Perseverance.

NASA reported that this sample contains minerals and chemical patterns that on Earth can be associated with microbial activity, although they can also form through non-biological processes.

The Curiosity rover, also belonging to the agency, provided other relevant data from the Gale crater, where it found sedimentary deposits and organic molecules. These compounds contain carbon, although scientists clarify that their presence does not necessarily mean they were produced by organisms.

The big question is whether Mars was ever inhabited or only had favorable conditions for life. Specialists believe that if Martian organisms existed, they were likely microscopic forms similar to terrestrial bacteria and may have survived in protected areas beneath the surface.

According to Fornaro, future missions will be crucial for advancing this research. The scientist highlighted the ExoMars mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), with the rover Rosalind Franklin. The launch is scheduled for 2028, with arrival on the surface of the red planet expected in 2030.

"This will be a fundamental mission for astrobiology because so far, exploratory vehicles have only been able to examine the surface, while Rosalind Franklin will be able to drill into the ground up to a depth of two meters and will be equipped with the most advanced instruments ever sent to Mars," she confirmed.