Throughout history, Mars has captivated human interest, being depicted as a deity, a realm of extraterrestrials, and even a target for invaders. Scientific investigations spanning decades have indicated the presence of water on Mars in its distant past, raising the possibility of past life. While definitive evidence of Martian life remains elusive, the consensus is that Mars was once a planet characterized by flowing water.
Perseverance, NASA’s rover conducting vital explorations on the Martian surface, recently made a noteworthy discovery of water-related features. A photo released by NASA, taken by Perseverance’s Mastcam-Z camera, reveals an intriguing assemblage of rocks and pebbles scattered in Mars’ Jezero Crater, specifically in the area known as ‘Castell Henllys.’ NASA asserts that these rocks and pebbles were transported by powerful floodwaters billions of years ago.
The Perseverance mission, with a key focus on Astrobiology, aims to provide conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial life. While this may not necessarily involve the stereotypical antenna-bearing aliens portrayed in popular media, the discovery of microorganisms or their fossils on Mars would be groundbreaking.
The quest for water on distant planets is rooted in Earth’s evolutionary history. Life on Earth originated in water, beginning with microorganisms and eventually giving rise to complex aquatic organisms. Scientists posit that the development of land-dwelling animals and plants followed this aquatic phase. Consequently, the presence of water on a planet enhances the likelihood of it harbouring life. Beyond Mars, Europa, Jupiter’s moon, stands out as another promising candidate for the search for life, with scientists speculating about a vast liquid ocean beneath its icy surface that could potentially support life.
Previously, evidence of volcanic activity on Mars was found through traces of molten lava on its surface. There is now speculation that active volcanoes may have existed during the time when dinosaurs lived on Mars.