WASHINGTON, Nov 17:
Researchers have found evidence of sufficiently warm water on Mars, a proof that the Red Planet may have supported life.
New study by the University of Leicester and The Open University into evidence of water on Mars, found that hydrothermal fractures around Martian impact craters may have been a habitable environment for microbial life.
The study determined that water temperatures on the Red Planet ranged from 50 to 150 degrees Celsius.
Microbes on Earth can live in similar waters, for example in the volcanic thermal springs at Yellowstone Park, the scientists note.
The research is based on detailed scrutiny of Mars meteorites on Earth using powerful microscopes in the University of Leicester Department of Physics and Astronomy. This was followed-up by computer modeling work at The Open University.
“Rovers on Mars – the Mars Exploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity, and the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity—are studying rocks to find out about the geologic history of the Red Planet. Some of the most interesting questions are what we can find out about water, how much there was and what temperature it might have had,” researcher John Bridges, from the University of Leicester Space Research Centre said.
“While the orbiters and rovers are studying the minerals on Mars, we also have meteorites from Mars here on Earth. They come in three different groups, the shergottites, the nakhlites and the chassignites.
“Of most interest for the question of water on Mars are the nakhlites, because this group of Martian meteorites contains small veins, which are filled with minerals formed by the action of water near the surface of Mars,” said Bridges. (PTI)
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