Scientists agree that water once flowed on Mars, making it more hospitable than it is today. About 4.2 to 3.7 billion years ago, the planet’s lakes and rivers dried up as solar winds eroded its atmosphere. The big question remains: how long was Mars truly habitable?
While some researchers argue that Mars became uninhabitable billions of years ago, recent studies hint at longer periods of habitability. NASA’s Curiosity rover, currently exploring Gale Crater, has uncovered more about Mars’ watery past. A team from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) found ancient sand dunes in this region turned into rock after coming into contact with underground water. This suggests that Mars might have supported life far longer than previously thought.
The findings, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets, emphasize active geological processes on Mars much deeper in its history. Led by Dimitra Atri, the research team observed dunes in the Stimson Formation (SF) and noted that these formations likely date back to the Noachian Period, when flooding was common, feeding rivers into the crater.
The team utilized data from the Mars Science Laboratory’s Curiosity Notebook and made comparisons with rock formations in the UAE that were also shaped by past water presence. Their research shows that interactions with groundwater left behind minerals like gypsum—found in deserts on Earth, too—hinting at a wet history.
This work builds on previous studies shared by Atri and Krishnamoorthy at the Tenth International Conference on Mars. Both studies indicate a network of underground water on Mars, essential for understanding potential life signs in the past.
On Earth, ancient sandstone deposits have helped discover some of the earliest life forms, including microscopic communities. By studying similar formations on Mars, scientists hope to find preserved traces of ancient microbial life.
This research not only sheds light on Mars’ evolution into its current cold and dry state but also highlights promising sites for future missions aimed at uncovering life beyond Earth.
Understanding Mars’ past can offer insight into our planet’s history and possibly our future. As we study the Red Planet, we get closer to grasping the potential for life beyond our own world.
For further reading, check out the analysis by Universe Today or review the original study in the original article.
