Mars Discovery Could Uncover Alien Life
Scientists have identified a 1,800-mile-wide plain in the northern hemisphere of Mars, called Acidalia Planitia, that has the right subsurface conditions to support living organisms. The region contains the right levels of water, heat, and energy in its soil for alien bacteria to thrive.
The researchers, led by Andrea Butturini of the University of Barcelona, believe that methanogens, or methane-producing bacteria, could exist up to 5.5 miles beneath the surface of Acidalia Planitia. These microorganisms are extremophiles that can thrive in extreme environmental conditions such as high temperatures, ultra-salty water, and high levels of radiation.
To access this potentially habitable depth, the researchers suggest that a drill would need to be built that can dig miles below the Martian surface. The European Space Agency plans to launch the Rosalind Franklin rover in 2028, which will include a drill that can dig roughly seven feet into the Martian surface, but this is not nearly deep enough to access the potentially habitable depth.
The researchers used data from Mars orbiters to locate regions where abundant thorium could provide life-sustaining energy and matched this data with the distribution of subsurface ice previously mapped by missions such as the Chinese Zhurong rover. The analysis revealed that the southern Acidalia Planitia at mid latitude is the most robust target area for finding microbial life.
The findings suggest that temperatures are higher than they are on the surface, averaging between 32 to 50°F, and that liquid water could be mixed into the Martian soil. This would provide the conditions for bacterial life to grow.
If the researchers’ theory eventually proves correct, it would not only lead to the groundbreaking discovery of alien life on Mars but also provide indirect evidence for the presence of biologically-generated methane in the Martian atmosphere.