We’ve watched Martians come alive in various ways on our TV screens over the years, but it’s generally accepted that Mars is devoid of life. However, recent findings might challenge that belief.
NASA’s Curiosity Rover has unveiled an intriguing discovery that could be pivotal in understanding whether life ever existed on Mars.
For those unfamiliar with the rover, NASA describes: “Part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission, Curiosity, was the largest and most capable rover ever sent to Mars when it launched in 2011.
“Curiosity set out to answer the question: Did Mars ever have the right environmental conditions to support small life forms called microbes? Early in its mission, Curiosity’s scientific tools found chemical and mineral evidence of past habitable environments on Mars.
“It continues to explore the rock record from a time when Mars could have been home to microbial life.”
The rover is indeed producing significant findings, such as evidence that Mars may have been habitable eons ago. Recently, it has discovered ‘spiderwebs’ on Mars’ surface, which might indicate the former presence of alien life.
These intricate structures were initially observed in 2006, stretching six to 12 miles long. The area, a Martian desert near the equator, is only now being investigated, with the formations located close to the towering Mount Sharp.
While it’s unlikely we’re dealing with the kind of extraterrestrials seen in movies, micro-organisms still qualify as alien life.
The structures resemble large-scale ‘boxwork,’ a type of mineral formation similar to those found in Earth’s caves.
The National Park Service describes boxwork formation as ‘thin blades of calcite that project from cave walls and ceilings, forming a honeycomb pattern. The fins intersect one another at various angles, forming ‘boxes’ on all cave surfaces’.
This Martian boxwork appears to have originated from seawater instead of calcite.
According to Marca, geologist Dr. Kirsten Siebach from Rice University, Texas, suggests these formations might hold fossils of ancient Martian life.
“These ridges will include minerals that crystallized underground, where it would have been warmer,” she explained.
“Early Earth microbes could have survived in a similar environment.”
Experts now hypothesize that mineral-rich water trickled down from Mount Sharp, creating these formations, which would require an estimated 113 billion gallons of warm, salty water.