Mars, the mysterious and harsh red planet, has long been one of the top research targets of scientists in the search for extraterrestrial life. For decades, Mars exploration missions from Curiosity, Perseverance to Mars Express have provided valuable data, contributing to clarifying the possibility that Mars once supported microbial life. Recent discoveries of potential biological signatures, including methane in the atmosphere and organic compounds on the planet’s surface, have raised hopes of discovering ancient microorganisms that once existed on Mars.
Microbial life on Mars, if it ever existed, may have evolved in climates far different from today’s. Liquid water, an essential element for life, existed on the surface of Mars billions of years ago. Ancient regions such as Jezero Crater and subsurface ice in the polar regions are potential places to look for evidence of ancient microbial life. The development of modern technology, along with increasingly advanced space missions, has yielded promising new data.
Methane in the Atmosphere: Clues to Microbial Life
One of the most notable discoveries related to microbial life on Mars is the presence of methane in the planet’s atmosphere. ESA’s Mars Express and NASA’s Curiosity have both detected methane in the Martian atmosphere in concentrations that change over time. This has raised many hypotheses about the origin of methane gas, because on Earth, most methane is created by biological processes of microorganisms.
Although methane can be formed from geological processes such as mineral decay or volcanic activity, the possibility of microbial life subsurface remains an attractive hypothesis. The seasonal rise and fall of methane suggests that there is some dynamic process going on under the Martian surface, possibly related to biological or geological activity.
Organic Compounds at Gale Crater
The Curiosity probe has made groundbreaking discoveries at Gale Crater, one of the key locations believed to have once had a favorable environment for microbial life. Curiosity discovered organic compounds in ancient soil and rock samples, including compounds containing carbon, the foundational element of life. Although organic compounds are not necessarily direct evidence of life, they do suggest that Mars once had the chemical conditions necessary to support life.
Gale Crater, with its history of liquid water and warmer temperature conditions than present, is one of the places with high potential for studying microbial life. The rock layers here have been preserved for billions of years, helping to retain potential chemical and biological signatures. These data bolster the hypothesis that Mars was not only capable of supporting life in the past, but may also have had microorganisms existing in deep subsurface soil layers.
Searching for Signs of Life at Jezero Crater
Jezero Crater, where the Perseverance is on a mission to search for biological signatures, was once a large lake billions of years ago. The presence of river deltas and sediments here suggests that water once flowed through the area, opening up the possibility that ancient microorganisms may have existed in the sediments at the bottom of the lake.
Perseverance is equipped with advanced scientific instruments such as SuperCam, SHERLOC and PIXL, allowing detailed analysis of Martian samples. These tools can detect organic compounds and potential biological signatures, thereby helping scientists determine whether Mars once had life. The samples collected by Perseverance will be archived to be brought back to Earth on future Mars Sample Return missions, opening the door for further analysis of the biological history of Mars.
Groundwater and the Existence of Life Below the Surface
One of the most remarkable discoveries about microbial life on Mars is the possibility of liquid water existing under the surface, especially in the polar regions. The MARSIS radar on board Mars Express has discovered underground pockets of water under the ice at the south pole of Mars, suggesting that liquid water can exist in extremely cold temperatures. Liquid water is indispensable for life, and the discovery of these pockets of water has opened up many hypotheses about the existence of microorganisms below the surface.
Under the surface of Mars, which is protected from powerful radiation and harsh climatic conditions, ancient microorganisms may live. Future missions will focus on drilling deep into the surface to search for signs of microbial life under rock and ice. This is a promising research direction in exploring the possibility that Mars still has life in the form of microorganisms.
Space exploration
New discoveries about microbial life on Mars have yielded many interesting clues about the possibility that the planet may have supported microbial life in the past. From methane in the atmosphere, to organic compounds in rock samples, to the possibility of underground water under the surface, all suggest that Mars may have had favorable conditions for life to develop. . Exploration missions such as Curiosity, Perseverance and Mars Express have opened new doors in the study of extraterrestrial life. Searching for signs of life on Mars not only helps us better understand the history of the red planet but also provides valuable information for future missions. The discovery of microbial life on Mars will continue to be one of the important tasks in humanity’s journey to explore the universe.
