Mars, the Red Planet, has been an object of fascination for humans for centuries. In recent years, thanks to research conducted by various rovers and probes, our knowledge of the planet has grown significantly. However, there are still many mysteries waiting to be unraveled, one of which is whether Mars has ever hosted extraterrestrial life. Recently, a discovery made by the Curiosity rover has given experts new hope in answering this question.

The Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in 2012, has covered about 15 miles on the planet’s surface and has been busy examining various rock samples. One of the most significant discoveries made by the rover is the examination of clay-rich sedimentary rocks located within a former lake in the Gale Crater. Clay is an excellent natural candidate for investigating the existence of potential life forms since it forms when rock minerals decay after contact with water. Curiosity collected two samples of mudstone, both of which were about 3.5 billion years old and only 1200 feet apart.

However, one of the clay samples contained far fewer clay minerals than expected and had an unusually high iron dioxide content, the chemical compound that gives Mars its characteristic red color. Researchers believe that this unexpected material composition is due to the effects of extremely salty water that once infiltrated the mineral-rich clay layers. This galactic brine eventually destabilized and washed away the corresponding soil layers, thus also obliterating some time-honored traces on the Martian surface.

The chemical transformation process within the soil sediments is called diagenesis, and it could have made possible new life on Mars. Although it’s possible that other hypothetical life forms were extinguished, scientists are enthusiastic about the brine traces on the planet’s surface. According to them, the influx of salty water created suitable chemical basic conditions to support the emergence of underground living beings. Fines of this kind, therefore, help experts immensely in narrowing down the most promising locations in the search for traces of life on the Red Planet.

This discovery on Mars is not the only one that has experts in wrapped amazement. Another recently discovered circumstance also suggests that the celestial body is home to more than just dust and rocks – methane on Mars. The Curiosity rover has already succeeded in detecting several astonishing methane eruptions on the Red Planet. The existence of the hydrocarbon on Mars gives rise to the most exciting theories, as it has predominantly biological origins on Earth.

Two years ago, Curiosity recorded an incomparably strong methane eruption on Mars, exceeding the highest of its kind to that date by a factor of three. The fact that the corresponding emissions on Mars are temporarily limited phenomena seems particularly interesting. Researchers are questioning whether such microscopic life forms on Mars are responsible for the observed methane emissions. However, it is also conceivable that the methane on the Red Planet is produced by volcanoes, the decomposition of dust particles, or other geochemical processes.

In conclusion, while the face of Mars today is a barren desert planet that could not be more hostile to life, there are still many reasons to be hopeful about the possibility of extraterrestrial life on the Red Planet. The discovery of brine traces and methane eruptions on Mars are just some of the exciting developments that have experts around the world spellbound. As we continue to explore the cosmos and unravel the mysteries of the universe, Mars will undoubtedly remain one of the most intriguing objects of our attention.