Planetary scientists aim to look for signs of life in what they think used to be a muddy lake on Mars. After careful examination of what they believe are dried-up remains of a mud lake in Mars’ equatorial region, scientists have found clues indicating that a hidden stash of water might have surged up to the surface.
If these researchers are correct, this flat area could become an important target for upcoming missions in the search for signs of life on Mars.
Alexis Rodriguez, a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona, explained, “While Martian lakes and mud volcanoes have been subjects of prior studies, our work represents the first comprehensive analysis specifically focused on a putative mud lake.”
Water froze on Mars surface
In a broader sense, scientists propose that water on the Martian surface froze approximately 3.7 billion years ago, when the atmosphere thinned out and the surface temperature dropped.
However, below the surface, underground water could have possibly remained in large underground chambers in its liquid form. Additionally, life forms might have even survived in these underground tunnels, possibly leaving behind evidence of their presence.
It was only about 3.4 billion years ago when the network of underground water channels in Hydraotes Chaos experienced a breakdown. This breakdown led to massive floods that deposited an immense amount of sediment on the Martian surface, as suggested by the study. In the future, upcoming missions may investigate this sediment closely to look for signs of life.
The chaos terrain around the mud lake on Mars
Hydraotes Chaos falls into a category of terrain known as “chaos terrain,” characterized by a chaotic mixture of towering mountains, fractured craters, and rugged valleys. Alexis Rodriguez and his team carefully examined images of Hydraotes Chaos captured by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for more hints.
Amid turbulent features of the chaotic terrain, there is also a serene, relatively flat area. This plain is marked by small cones and domes, and there are indications of mud seeping from below. This suggests that the sediment likely didn’t arrive due to a sudden, rushing flood but rather emerged from beneath the surface.
Discovery of traces of life at mud lake on Mars
According to computer simulations, researchers propose that beneath Hydraotes Chaos, there might be a hidden reservoir of water containing significant signs of potential life, possibly in the form of thick layers of ice.
In the end, it is possible that the Red Planet’s internal heat, over time, melted this ice, causing the water to rise to the surface and form a muddy lake. As this water gradually disappeared, it might have left behind intriguing traces of life.
Interestingly, this water could have remained underground even after the massive floods. In fact, the findings from the study indicate that the sediment on the surface of this mud lake is relatively young, dating back to only about 1.1 billion years ago.
This is long after most of Mars’ groundwater was expected to have drained away. After this time, Mars proved to no longer be a suitable place for life.
Use of EXCALIBR to determine possibility of life
With this timeline in mind, Rodriguez and his fellow researchers are planning to investigate below the surface of the Martian lake. This, as Rodriguez explained, could help scientists determine when, in the history of Mars, life might have in fact been possible.
Tomorrow, NASA will make a bold attempt to successfully land Perseverance Rover to search for evidence of life inside this ancient lake crater on #Mars – Good Luck! pic.twitter.com/SE2VbWFqjA
— Space (@redditSpaceView) February 17, 2021
Scientists may have the opportunity to dig into this ancient mud in future research. NASA’s Ames Research Center is developing a tool called “Extractor for Chemical Analysis of Lipid Biomarkers in Regolith” (EXCALIBR). This can examine extraterrestrial rocks for specific signs of life, especially lipids.
In an upcoming NASA mission to the Moon or Mars, EXCALIBR might be part of the equipment. “Hydraotes Chaos is under consideration as a candidate landing site for [EXCALIBR],” Rodriguez mentioned to Space.com.
The results of this research have been detailed in a paper published on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 in the journal Scientific Reports – Nature.
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