NASA mission has made a discovery on Mars that suggests the presence of microbial life billions of years ago.
NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered a rock named Cheyava Falls in an ancient river valley on Mars.
Analysis of this rock revealed traces of organic matter similar to ancient microbial fossils found on Earth. Evidence also indicated that water once flowed through this rock.
Ken Farley, a scientist at the California Institute of Technology, stated that this rock is very complex and highly significant.
He acknowledged that non-biological processes could also produce such traces in the rock.
He explained that on one hand, they discovered the presence of organic matter, and the colorful spots on the rock suggest chemical reactions that could possibly result from microbial life.
Additionally, evidence of water essential for life was also found.
On the other hand, he mentioned that they have not yet determined how the rock was formed and how nearby rocks contributed to these characteristics.
Scientists believe that ancient Mars was a warm and water-rich planet, and if life ever existed there, its traces could be found in the form of organic matter and fossil particles within rocks.
Perseverance rover’s scans revealed the presence of organic compounds in the rock. Such carbon-based compounds are considered the foundation of life on Earth, but they can also form through non-biological processes.
Large white veins of calcium phosphate were found in the rock, with traces of red matter in between.
Experts say that the spots on the rock are surprising because similar characteristics on Earth are associated with ancient microbial fossils.
Scientists want to directly examine samples of the rock, but bringing them to Earth is not easy.
NASA has allocated $11 billion for a mission to return samples from Mars, but it has faced significant delays, making it unlikely that the rocks will be brought back to Earth before 2040.