Scientists talked about the possible preservation of life in the ice of Mars

Traces of ancient life on Mars can persist for tens of millions of years in the ice, even under the influence of cosmic radiation. This conclusion was reached by scientists from NASA and the University of Pennsylvania, who showed in laboratory experiments that ice is able to protect organic molecules much more effectively than Martian soil. This was reported on February 25 in the journal Science Daily.

The researchers modeled the conditions of the Red Planet to test whether biological molecules are able to survive in the Martian environment. In experiments, the amino acids of the E. coli bacterium, encased in pure water ice, withstood the equivalent of more than 50 million years of exposure to cosmic radiation.

The scientists placed bacterial samples in ice and exposed them to gamma radiation at a temperature of about minus 60 degrees Fahrenheit - conditions close to the icy regions of Mars. Some of the samples were also mixed with minerals and clay rocks typical of the Martian soil. It was the comparison that showed the key difference: more than 10% of amino acids were preserved in pure ice, whereas in a mixture with soil, organic compounds were destroyed about ten times faster.

According to the authors, the protective effect is explained by the physical properties of ice. In a solid icy environment, particles produced by radiation exposure are "frozen" and reach organic molecules worse. In the presence of minerals, on the contrary, a thin layer forms on the ice–rock boundary, accelerating the destruction of substances.

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The results obtained change the priorities of future missions to search for life. Previously, the focus was on studying rocks and sedimentary rocks, but now scientists consider drilling in areas of pure subsurface ice or permafrost to be more promising. The study is also important for studying the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn — Europa and Enceladus. At lower temperatures, the destruction of organic molecules slows down even more, which increases the likelihood of preserving biological traces.

Scientists note that most of the Martian ice is hidden directly below the surface of the planet. To study it, future vehicles will need drilling equipment comparable to the capabilities of the Phoenix mission, which first discovered ice in 2008. The work shows that Martian ice deposits can act as a kind of "time capsules" capable of preserving chemical traces of a possible ancient biosphere of the planet.

On February 18, Science Daily reported on the Moon's ongoing contraction. It was clarified that the Earth's satellite continues to shrink as its interior cools. According to the researchers, this leads to the accumulation of stress in the crust and the formation of tectonic structures.

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