Life on Mars

A simulation of an asteroid impact on the ancient Earth, an event that may have created warm lakes that supported early microbial life.

Asteroid craters may have been havens for early life on Earth

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Asteroid craters are often seen as symbols of destruction, but new research suggests they may have also been havens for ancient life. Stromatolites discovered in Hapcheon Crater in South Korea may indicate hot, mineral-rich lakes that supported
NASA's Perseverance spacecraft captured this selfie, made up of 62 individual images, on July 23, 2024. A rock called Chiave Falls—where features have been found that may indicate whether Mars was once home to microscopic life—is visible to the left of the spacecraft, near the center of the image. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Signs of life on Mars? Geologists warn: It may be non-biological processes

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Case Western Reserve University researchers are cooling the enthusiasm for the Mars Perseverance rover's discoveries, emphasizing that the spotted rocks found may have been formed by geological processes – not by microorganisms.
A tagged version of "Ciava Falls" shows the leopard spots that captivated scientists, along with the presence of olivine in the rock. The image was taken on July 18 by the WATSON instrument on the rover. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

The Perseverance probe has detected possible clues to ancient life on Mars.

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A rock sample from Jezero Crater reveals "leopard spots" and unique chemical patterns that may be a sign of ancient life. These are materials that on Earth originate from biological phenomena, but they can also be formed by non-biological processes
Illustration of a human expedition to Mars. Credit: NASA

Sorry, Elon Musk, but now it's clear that colonizing Mars is unlikely - and it's a bad idea

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