Martian Rocks with Life Signs Set to Arrive on Earth

NASA and MIT scientists have decided to bring seven rock samples back to Earth, which contain minerals believed to have formed in the presence of water on Mars. These samples were discovered in the “fan front” of Mars’ Jezero Crater, suggesting that they were either formed in watery environments or deposited by water, highlighting the crater’s watery past.

In 2022, the Perseverance rover collected these seven samples while exploring the crater’s western slope, where scientists suspected the presence of rocks originating from an ancient, now-dry lake.

The Perseverance science team analyzed images and chemical data from the rover, confirming that the rocks indeed show signs of water. This data further supports the theory that Jezero Crater once had a watery, habitable environment. The minerals in these rocks offer scientists a valuable opportunity to search for signs of ancient life on Mars.

Tanja Bosak, a professor of geobiology at MIT and lead author of the study, stated, “These rocks confirm the presence, at least temporarily, of habitable environments on Mars.” She added, “What we’ve found is that indeed there was a lot of water activity. For how long, we don’t know, but certainly for long enough to create these big sedimentary deposits.”

The scientists believe that some of these samples were likely deposited in the ancient lake around 3.5 billion years ago. Co-author Benjamin Weiss, a professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at MIT, commented, “These are the oldest rocks that may have been deposited by water that we’ve ever laid hands or rover arms on.” He added, “That’s exciting because it means these are the most promising rocks that may have preserved fossils and signatures of life.”