Mars, Conditions for Underground Life – Space and Astronomy

All on the surface of Mars Materials Necessary Establish life. It is marked Composition of meteorites Separated from the surface of Mars and fell to Earth: When they come in contact with water like water flowing on the soil of the red planet, they give life Chemical reactions It producesEnergy Essential for survival Microbes, Like those who dwell in the dark depths of the earth’s crust. It was discovered by an international team led by Jesse Tarnas, a researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and a doctoral student at Brown University in the United States. This study, published in Astrobiology, further raises expectations for the results of planetary exploration, which has never been crowded during this period.

On its surface it has already been active for almost nine years Curiosity, NASA rover that discovered existence Ancient lakes And favorable conditions for the past life of Mars. To this he recently added Diligence, Aimed at collecting the first samples of Martian soil returning to Earth in 2031.

This work has been in orbit since February Hope The United Arab Emirates, which will explore the Martian atmosphere, is the first Chinese mission to Mars in May. Tianwen-1 Authorities will release his now-called rover ‘JurongAs the god of fire “to ignite the flame of China’s planetary exploration.” Europeans should be included in these missions by 2022 Exomers, The only one designed Search for life up to a depth of two meters. His inquiries may give a glimpse of the planet hidden underground.

“Wherever groundwater is on Mars, it has a good chance of having enough chemical energy to sustain microbial life,” said Jesse Tarnas of NASA’s JBL. It is produced by reactions such as the reference energy Radiology, Which occurs when radioactive elements in rocks react with water trapped in holes and cracks in the soil. The reactive water molecule breaks down into its components: residual water-soluble hydrogen, and oxygen derived from minerals such as pyrite to form sulfate ores. Some microorganisms can replenish hydrogen and use it to burn oxygen from sulfates.
Studies have shown that materials for these reactions, from rocks older than 3.6 billion years, are abundant in various types of Martian meteorites, particularly Regolith precius.

“This is a very interesting piece of work on its impact on the search for life on Mars,” commented Media Enaf Roberto Orosi, a researcher at the National Institute of Astronomy (ENAF) in 2018, which led a study Underground lake Under an iceberg in the southern part of Mars.

Underground on the planet, the expert explains, “There comes a pointWater Is on the ground Liquid And this Vita It is possible. The problem is, for those who want to take samples, the depth at which this happens, as far as we know, More than a kilometer. It’s a tough technical challenge, but the stock is so high, I hope one day it can find the resources it faces and overcome it. “