Life on Mars - A true possibility!
Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun and Earth's closest neighbour has long been seen as an alternative home to humans after Earth. Since the conditions on Mars (certain parts of it at least) are very similar to the environment found on earth, scientists believe that there is a very real possibility that Mars might support life. However till now, there has been no such evidence found hence scientist believe that Mars might be similar to earth in some ways but in terms of life evolution, it might just be in a primordial stage. A recent study by Colorado Boulder has increased interest in this study
The findings
The findings that were published in the journal of Natural Geo sciences, explains how a chemical reaction between iron holding minerals and water leads to the production of hydrogen ‘food’ to mitigate the growth of microbial communities. Such reactions are commonly observed in pores and cracks of rocks below the ocean floor. The issue however was that, the areas below the ocean floors are extremely hot, so despite ‘hydrogen food’ being produced, the heat is too much for microorganisms to survive. This condition is observed on the hydrothermal vent systems on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
The research has proven that this may not be completely true and in certain conditions, such reactions can take place in much cooler climates where microorganisms can survive and benefit from this hydrogen food. And where are such conditions available? On Mars! Further the scientists also hinted that such rock-water reactions were what led to the formation of life on earth in the first place. For all we know, Mars might be on the brink of a very similar Eco-system.
Method
If you are interested in understanding how exactly the scientists came to this finding, this section will interest you. The researchers used a ‘synchrotron radiation’ technique to produce this hydrogen food in a lab experiment. The researchers expected to find stable iron minerals when this experiment was conducted at lower temperatures. But to their surprise they discovered a conducting material called ‘spinels’. This lead to the conclusion that at low temperatures, these conductors helped exchange of electrons between water and iron eventually producing hydrogen.
Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun and Earth's closest neighbour has long been seen as an alternative home to humans after Earth. Since the conditions on Mars (certain parts of it at least) are very similar to the environment found on earth, scientists believe that there is a very real possibility that Mars might support life. However till now, there has been no such evidence found hence scientist believe that Mars might be similar to earth in some ways but in terms of life evolution, it might just be in a primordial stage. A recent study by Colorado Boulder has increased interest in this study
The findings
The findings that were published in the journal of Natural Geo sciences, explains how a chemical reaction between iron holding minerals and water leads to the production of hydrogen ‘food’ to mitigate the growth of microbial communities. Such reactions are commonly observed in pores and cracks of rocks below the ocean floor. The issue however was that, the areas below the ocean floors are extremely hot, so despite ‘hydrogen food’ being produced, the heat is too much for microorganisms to survive. This condition is observed on the hydrothermal vent systems on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
The research has proven that this may not be completely true and in certain conditions, such reactions can take place in much cooler climates where microorganisms can survive and benefit from this hydrogen food. And where are such conditions available? On Mars! Further the scientists also hinted that such rock-water reactions were what led to the formation of life on earth in the first place. For all we know, Mars might be on the brink of a very similar Eco-system.
Method
If you are interested in understanding how exactly the scientists came to this finding, this section will interest you. The researchers used a ‘synchrotron radiation’ technique to produce this hydrogen food in a lab experiment. The researchers expected to find stable iron minerals when this experiment was conducted at lower temperatures. But to their surprise they discovered a conducting material called ‘spinels’. This lead to the conclusion that at low temperatures, these conductors helped exchange of electrons between water and iron eventually producing hydrogen.
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