While most people are searching for signs of foreign life these days, they may be eyeing the exoplanet K2-18B, a team of researchers is keeping their sightseeing closer to the house.
Texas A&M researcher Michael Tice and a team of international scientists have revealed new clues about the ability of Mars. Supported lifeThanks for the data collected by NASA Strong rover,
Since 2021, perseverance is searching for the gezero crater of Mars, using its mobile laboratory to support the work of scientists around the world. Tice and their team, in particular, are using firmness to analyze Martian rocks. Their goal is to study the planet’s volcano and hydrological history, in search of indicators Mars planet Can be living once.
Through its research, the team has discovered two types of mineral-rich volcanic rocks: a dark rock with iron, magnesium, pyroxine and plasioclass feldspar, as well as a light-tondled trachyndite with plasioclass crystals and potassium.
While following the formation of rocks of rocks through thermodynamic modeling, researchers determined that Mars has a very complex volcanic history – a one that may be able to provide the key compounds required for life.
Tice said, “The procedures we see here – partial crystallization and crustal identity – occur in active volcanic systems on Earth,” TIS said. statement“It suggests that this part of Mars may have long -term volcanic activity, which in turn could provide a continuous source for various compounds used by life.”
As a firmness is advanced, its toolkit is still limited compared to the existing on Earth, so only that we can learn about samples from a distance. Like, Tice is ready for NASA’s plan Mars sample refund mission To do more research on volcanic rock.
“We carefully selected these rocks because they have clues of the previous atmosphere of Mars,” Tice said. “When we take them back Earth And can analyze them with laboratory devices, we will be able to ask more detailed questions about their history and potential biological signature. ,
The team’s research was published in the journal Science progress On January 24, 2025.
