Scientists have made a new discovery that may indicate conditions on the Red Planet were at one point favorable for the emergence of microbial life.
Scientists have found hexagonal mud patches on the surface of Mars. Researchers believe that these patches are indicative of long-defunct wet-dry cycles, which could have sustained microscopic life forms.
Scientists documented their findings in an August issue of Nature.
Researchers discovered these patterns on the surface using the Curiosity rover, according to a press release from NASA. The rover originally landed on the Martian surface in August 2012, according to NASA.
It had been ascending Mount Sharp when it spotted cracks in the Martian mud after drilling into a sample stone. The area with the hexagonal pattern was found within a transitional zone between a clay-rich part of the area and another area rich in salty minerals.
Scientists believe the hexagonal shape was created by the mud forming and drying in repeated cycles. Curiosity’s ChemCam laser instrument recorded that sulfates were on the edges where the mud had cracked, which aided in preserving the structure long after these patterns ceased.
The Red Planet’s lack of tectonic activity also allowed these cracks to remain.
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“In summary, two key observations are (1) mature hexagonal shapes that indicate repeated drying cycles, and (2) their existence across stratigraphic thickness that implies that regular wet–dry conditions were maintained at least episodically in the long term,” said scientists in the study.
These wet and dry cycles control the distribution of chemicals that can result in reactions that create polymers, carbon-based molecules that are essential for the creation of life.
William Rapin, the paper’s lead author, said that the wet and dry cycles may even be evidence of seasonal patterns.
“This is the first tangible evidence we’ve seen that the ancient climate of Mars had such regular, Earth-like wet-dry cycles,” said Rapin in the press release. “But even more important is that wet-dry cycles are helpful – maybe even required – for the molecular evolution that could lead to life.”
Ashwin Vasavada, project scientist for the Curiosity mission, said that the discovery takes things to a whole new level.
“Over 11 years, we’ve found ample evidence that ancient Mars could have supported microbial life,” said Vasavada, according to the press release. “Now, the mission has found evidence of conditions that may have promoted the origin of life, too.”