Scientists Have Made a Chilling Discovery That Could Soon Reveal Whether Life Exists on Mars

[Judi Lynn]

(Credit: USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Arizona State University, INAF)

Micah Hanks·October 19, 2024

Scientists have discovered that exposed ice on Mars could create conditions suitable for photosynthesis, suggesting the possibility that microbial life could thrive there despite the planet’s harsh environment and intense ultraviolet radiation.

The new findings reveal the potential for the existence of life on the Red Planet near its sub-latitudes, revealing that photosynthetic organisms may be uniquely suited for survival in certain icy exposed regions on the planet.

Unlike Earth, Mars is exposed to significantly more harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation since it has no ozone layer, meaning that processes like photosynthesis, which plants and certain other organisms rely on to produce food with the help of sunlight, would be impossible on its surface under normal Martian conditions.

However, that may not be the case just a short distance below some of the Red Planet’s exposed icy surfaces. As little as a few centimeters of Martian surface ice could potentially offer enough shielding against radiation that photosynthetic organisms might be able to thrive.



In the image above captured by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, white areas on the edges of the ridge could indicate the presence of ice on Mars where photosynthetic life forms might be able to thrive (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona).

More:
https://thedebrief.org/scientists-have-made-a-chilling-discovery-that-could-soon-reveal-whether-life-exists-on-mars/