NASA representatives recently reported the discovery of the most convincing signs of ancient microbial life on Mars. The rover does not have the equipment to analyze samples in detail on site, so all conclusions are preliminary until they return to Earth. However, the number of encouraging signs is so great that scientists are talking with great hope about the possible first discovery of life beyond our planet.
Image source: NASA
Recall that in July 2024, Perseverance discovered mineral deposits of a characteristic structure on an arrow-shaped rock. These were scatterings of dark and greenish dots, as well as light spots with a dark border. In terrestrial rocks, such traces are usually associated with ancient microbial activity. The dark dots were called “poppy seeds”, and the light spots were called “leopard”.
The problem is that such formations can arise not only as a result of biological processes, but also as a result of inorganic crystallization of rocks, for example, at high temperatures typical of volcanic activity. A report by NASA specialists, presented at the Conference on Lunar and Planetary Sciences in Texas, is devoted to explaining that the discovered mineral deposits were most likely formed under conditions of low-temperature reactions. In other words, this may be evidence of ancient microbial life on Mars.
This can only be proven with 100% certainty on Earth using modern scientific equipment. To do this, samples must be delivered from Mars. The mission of the Perseverance rover is precisely to select the most promising samples of rocks from the Red Planet for this purpose.
Unfortunately, the Mars sample return mission is significantly over budget and has encountered numerous technological hurdles. If the U.S. Congress provides additional funding for the mission, samples could be returned to Earth in the mid- to late 2030s. Before then, the only way to get Mars samples to Earth would be if China succeeds, which aims to do so by 2035.