For decades, scientists have been on a quest to find any trace of life on Mars. However, a new study has uncovered details about the planet’s past climatic conditions, casting doubt on the possibility of ancient alien life.
Mars’ Icy and Frigid Past
Contrary to the popular belief that Mars was once warm and wet with flowing seas and rivers, the latest research paints a starkly different picture. The study reveals that Mars was icy and frigid millions of years ago, significantly reducing its chances of supporting any kind of life.
Similarities Between Martian and Canadian Soils
Scientists found similarities between soils on Mars and those from Newfoundland in Canada, which experiences a cold subarctic climate. This discovery further supports the notion that Mars was much colder than previously thought.
Investigating Soils in Gale Crater
The study, published in Communications Earth and Environment, focused on the soils in the Gale Crater of Mars. Researchers searched for Earth soils with comparable materials to those found in the crater. Soil is a key element in understanding environmental history, as its minerals can reveal the story of landscape evolution over time.
Mars’ Climate Millions of Years Ago
By studying the rocks and soils of Gale Crater, researchers gained insights into the climatic conditions of Mars nearly three to four billion years ago—a period when the first life appeared on Earth. Anthony Feldman, a soil scientist and geomorphologist at Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas, explained: “Gale Crater is a paleo lakebed—there was obviously water present. But what were the environmental conditions when the water was there?”
Challenges in Finding Martian Analogues
Feldman noted the difficulty in finding direct analogues to the Martian surface due to the vastly different conditions between Mars and Earth. “We can look at trends under terrestrial conditions and use those to try to extrapolate to Martian questions,” he added.
Curiosity Rover’s Discoveries
Since 2011, NASA’s Curiosity Rover has been investigating Gale Crater, uncovering various soil materials known as “X-ray amorphous material.” These components lack the repeating atomic structure that defines minerals, making them challenging to characterize using traditional techniques like X-ray diffraction.
Conclusion
The revelation of Mars’ icy past significantly dampens the hopes of discovering ancient alien life on the Red Planet. However, the ongoing research and findings continue to provide valuable insights into Mars’ climatic history and environmental conditions.