Scientists have discovered traces of groundwater on Mars

Mars could remain habitable much longer than previously thought. An analysis of ancient sand dunes in Gale Crater, studied by NASA's Curiosity rover, has revealed traces of groundwater exposure that have left minerals capable of preserving signs of life. This was reported on March 15 in the journal Science Daily.

As specified, even after the disappearance of surface water, underground streams could create protected environments where microbes could exist. These hidden water areas are considered promising targets for searching for traces of ancient life on the Red Planet.

The study was conducted by a team from New York University in Abu Dhabi led by Dimitra Atri and Vignesh Krishnamurti. To better understand the processes on Mars, scientists compared Curiosity's data with similar formations in the deserts of the UAE, where sand deposits solidify under similar conditions.

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The analysis showed that water from the nearby Martian upland gradually penetrated into the dunes through microcracks. As moisture moved upward through the sand, minerals such as gypsum remained, which retain organic traces on the Ground. These deposits are considered particularly promising for future missions aimed at finding ancient life.

"Our data shows that Mars did not immediately become dry. Even after the lakes and rivers disappeared, small amounts of water continued to circulate underground, creating protected conditions for microbial life," Atri noted.

The discovery helps to understand the evolution of Mars over billions of years and confirms the idea that underground environments may be key places to search for traces of past life.

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On March 3, the Science X news portal reported on the ability of living organisms to move between planets. It was clarified that they do this on the debris of asteroids. The study showed that certain bacteria can withstand the extreme pressure that occurs when ejected from Mars after an asteroid impact.

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