NASA’s Perseverance rover finds possible biosignatures in Mars rocks
Perseverance rover uncovers 3.5-billion-year-old mudstones in Jezero Crater with mineral patterns that may signal ancient microbial activity.
NASA’s Perseverance rover has uncovered unusual mudstones in Jezero Crater on Mars that display "leopard spots" and "poppy seeds" mineral patterns. These textures arise from chemical reactions that could be linked to ancient microbial activity.
Geologic Context
At the base of a former river channel in the Bright Angel Formation, the rover identified 3.5-billion-year-old fine-grained mudstones. Onboard instruments analyzed mineral compositions and transmitted the data back to Earth.
Potential Biosignatures
Scientists suggest that interactions between organic matter and minerals in the lakebed sediment produced the distinctive features. While natural high-temperature processes may also explain the patterns, the rocks show no evidence of significant heating.
Sample Return Mission
To confirm a biological origin, the samples must be brought to Earth for detailed laboratory analysis. Although NASA and ESA have proposed a Mars sample return mission, budgetary constraints imperil its future. China’s rival mission could depart as early as 2028.
These mineral textures represent the most compelling potential biosignatures detected on Mars to date, guiding future sample return efforts.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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