Was there life on Mars? Rock found by Nasa rover shows similarities with earth

A spotty, vein-filled rock discovered by a NASA rover on Mars exhibits features suggesting it may have hosted microbial life billions of years ago. The arrowhead-shaped rock, named Cheyava Falls, was found by NASA’s Perseverance rover on 21 July as it moved along the northern edge of Neretva Vallis, an ancient river valley that once directed water into the Jezero crater.

This 3ft by 2ft rock revealed signs of organic material and surface spots similar to those associated with fossilized microbes on Earth. Additionally, there is evidence indicating that water once passed through the rock, according to NASA.

In May, a NASA rover accidentally climbed into a rock, which caused it to crack. What came out from the rock left the scientists surprised as it was never seen before on the Red Planet: yellow sulfur crystals.

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The scientists believe that some surrounding rocks may also contain sulphur. NASA mentioned that they are set to conduct further study in that area. Scientist Ashwin Nasavada further said, “The discovery is strange and an unexpected thing for all of us. This type of discovery makes planetary exploration so exciting.” The rover has been exploring the Gediz Vallis channel area for the past few months now. As per NASA’s statement, this discovery might significantly aid efforts to establish a human population on Mars.

Since October 2023, the rover has been exploring a region of Mars rich with sulfates, a kind of salt that contains sulfur and forms as water evaporates. But where past detections have been of sulfur-based minerals — in other words, a mix of sulfur and other materials — the rock Curiosity recently cracked open is made of elemental, or pure, sulfur. It isn’t clear what relationship, if any, the elemental sulfur has to other sulfur-based minerals in the area.

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While people associate sulfur with the odor from rotten eggs (the result of hydrogen sulfide gas), elemental sulfur is odorless. It forms in only a narrow range of conditions that scientists haven’t associated with the history of this location. And Curiosity found a lot of it — an entire field of bright rocks that look similar to the one the rover crushed.

It may be noted that sulphur is one of the major elements that contribute to the existence of life on Earth. This discovery has opened up a brand new path for scientists as they continue their efforts to establish human colonies on the planet.