Scientists may have uncovered the most convincing evidence yet of ancient life on Mars. New findings from Jezero Crater reveal clues that the Red Planet once supported microbial activity.
Promising Clues in Martian Rocks
NASA’s Perseverance rover has been exploring Jezero Crater since 2021. This crater once held a massive lake, making it an ideal place to search for past life. Recently, the rover studied a light-toned area called Bright Angel, where it found fine-grained mudstones and minerals linked to organic matter.
Imperial College London researchers helped analyze these rocks. They discovered iron-phosphate and iron-sulfide nodules, which often form through processes resembling microbial activity on Earth. As a result, scientists believe these features could represent a potential biosignature.
A Surprising Ancient Lake
The mudstone deposits suggest that a calm lake once existed inside the valley. Normally, such fine sediments would wash away in rivers. However, here they settled quietly, creating a possible habitable environment. This discovery hints that water flooded the valley in the past, forming a stable lake.
While these findings are exciting, researchers remain cautious. Professor Sanjeev Gupta from Imperial explained that the rocks need to be studied on Earth to confirm their true origin. Fortunately, Perseverance has already collected core samples, including one called Sapphire Canyon.
These samples will return to Earth in the 2030s through the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission. Once in advanced labs, scientists can determine if the chemical signatures were created by geology alone or by ancient microbial life.
This discovery marks a major step forward. It brings humanity closer to answering one of science’s biggest questions: are we alone in the universe?
