NASA Rover Finds Conditions Once Suited for Ancient Life on Mars

[Greg Bernhardt]

An analysis of a rock sample collected by NASA's Curiosity rover shows ancient Mars could have supported living microbes.

Scientists identified sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon -- some of the key chemical ingredients for life -- in the powder Curiosity drilled out of a sedimentary rock near an ancient stream bed in Gale Crater on the Red Planet last month.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130312.html

 

[Mordred]

Good article thanks for posting it

 

[julcab12]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20130312.html

Rich. Hope they'll find clay minerals, primordial tidal lagoons and pools somewhat indication of prebiotic stage but doubt still lingers since we don't have much confidence of its primordial atmosphere and also that low methane. Or does it have enough criteria for precellular to evolve.

But it do raises the probability even better. TFS

 

[thorium1010]

curiosity sees signs of water on Mars -

The sedimentary rocks at Yellowknife Bay likely formed when original basaltic rocks were broken into fragments, transported, re-deposited as sedimentary particles, and mineralogically altered by exposure to water.

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowNews&NewsID=1446
Close-up View of Broken Mars Rock 'Tintina'. This is very interesting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21340279

 

[alphy]

I am extremely excited by this recent discovery by NASA's Curiosity rover. The identification of key chemical ingredients for life in a rock sample collected on Mars suggests that ancient Mars could have been habitable for microbial life. This is a significant finding as it provides further evidence for the potential existence of life beyond Earth.

The presence of sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and carbon in the sedimentary rock near an ancient stream bed is particularly noteworthy. These elements are essential for the formation and sustenance of living organisms, and their presence on Mars indicates that the conditions were once suitable for life to thrive.

This discovery also highlights the importance of continued exploration of Mars and other planets in our solar system. By studying the geology and chemistry of other worlds, we can gain a better understanding of the conditions that are necessary for life to arise and potentially discover evidence of past or present life.

However, it is important to note that while this discovery is significant, it does not confirm the existence of past life on Mars. Further analysis and investigation are needed to fully understand the implications of this finding.

Overall, the discovery of key chemical ingredients for life on Mars is a major step forward in our understanding of the potential habitability of other planets. I look forward to seeing what other exciting discoveries will be made by NASA's Curiosity rover and future missions to Mars.