This is mainly because of the presence of dry riverbeds, salty chemical surface, and ancient shorelines. The chemical combination of water and organic compounds proves the presence of organic life in the past or present of the Red Planet.
While many are working remotely on Earth, it's business as usual for the Curiosity Rover on Mars. NASA's rover operators are getting creative from home as they study Mars' terrain and plan Curiosity's moves. Learn more from the latest blog on @KQEDscience. https://t.co/YWOjWLScms
— Chabot Space & Science Center (@ChabotSpace) May 11, 2020
NASA Curiosity: Life on Mars
In the latest research study published in Nature Astronomy, scientists produce a final report about the years of the experiment going on inside the lab of NASA Curiosity. However, the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) team has provided some insights which may help scientists determine the exact forms of life on Mars.
Gale is a crater the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. It was selected as Curiosity’s 2012 landing site because it had signs of past water. This includes clay minerals that might help trap and preserve ancient organic molecules. Indeed, while exploring the base of a mountain in the center of the crater, called Mount Sharp, Curiosity found a layer of sediments 1,000 feet (304 meters) thick that was deposited as mud in ancient lakes. To form that much sediment an incredible amount of water would have flowed down into those lakes for millions to tens of millions of warm and humid years, some scientists say. But some geological features in the crater also hint at a past that included cold, icy conditions.
However, all of these scientific findings prompt a single direction. Life was surely present on Mars even if it was millions of years ago. But the main question that remains is, that where did these lifeforms go? Answering this question will be difficult. But it will help us understand the future of our own planet. Let us know what you think in the comments section below!