Images obtained by the Curiosity rover show rocks on Mars resemble terrestrial structures modeled by microorganisms

Jan 9, 2015 08:12 GMT  ·  By

Researchers led by geobiologist Nora Noffke with the Old Dominion University in Virginia, US, believe to have found evidence that, eons ago, the Red Planet was populated by colonies of microbes that shaped some of the sedimentary rocks on its surface.

The scientists say that, having analyzed images obtained with the help of NASA's Curiosity rover, they discovered that some of the sedimentary rocks found on the Red Planet bear a striking resemblance to terrestrial landscapes known to have been modeled by various microorganisms.

Mind you, it's important to note that this discovery does not prove that Mars actually sustained life at some point in its history. The find just indicates that it is possible that, millennia ago, life emerged and thrived on this planet. Whether or not this really happened is still a mystery.

Signs of ancient life on the Red Planet

Specialist Nora Noffke and colleagues detail their findings in a recent paper in the journal Astrobiology. In their report, the scientists explain that the sedimentary rocks that their investigation focused on sit in a dry lake bed in Mars' Yellowknife Bay.

More precisely, the researchers add that the sedimentary rocks that Curiosity images suggest were shaped by microbes sit in a region dubbed the Gillespie Lake outcrop. The formation, estimated to be about 3.7 billion years old, is believed to have been flooded several times throughout its history.

Writing in the journal Astrobiology, scientist Nora Noffke and fellow researchers explain that Mars' Gillespie Lake outcrop in the Yellowknife Bay displays several distinctive features that look very much like terrestrial structures previously documented to have formed as a result of microbial activity.

These structures, photos of which can be found in the gallery below, include pockets, erosional remnants, domes, pits, roll-ups, chips and cracks. Still, as already pointed out, the brainiacs behind this investigation are yet to prove that they were indeed birthed by microbes.

Commenting on these finds, Nora Niffke wished to stress that “If the Martian structures aren't of biological origin, then the similarities in morphology, but also in distribution patterns with regards to MISS [microbially induced sedimentary structures] on Earth would be an extraordinary coincidence.”

To confirm their suspicions that sedimentary rocks located in Mars' Gillespie Lake outcrop owe their rather odd appearance to colonies of microbes that once called this area their home, Nora Niffke would have to obtain samples of these rocks and closely analyze them with the help of microscopes.

Seeing how there are currently no plans to try and bring Martian rocks back to Earth, it will probably be a while until the scientists can move forward with their investigation and do their best to find further proof that microscopic lifeforms once populated the Red Planet.

Not the first evidence of life on Mars

Towards the end of last year, NASA researchers announced that, while sifting through data obtained by the Curiosity rover, they found evidence of organic molecules on Mars. Since organic molecules are the building blocks of life, this discovery also supports claims that the planet was once home to lifeforms.

As explained by scientists, saying that microorganisms might have once thrived on the Red Planet is not all that far-fetched. This is because, in its early days, the Red Planet was a much warmer and wetter place. Hence, it is possible that it too made it possible for life to emerge on its surface.

“We think life began on Earth around 3.8 billion years ago, and our result shows that places on Mars had the same conditions at that time – liquid water, a warm environment, and organic matter. So if life emerged on Earth in these conditions, why not on Mars as well?” said scientist Caroline Freissinet.

Rocks on Mars might have been shaped by microbes (6 Images)

Researchers believe to have found signs of life on Mars
A rock bed at the Gillespie Lake outcropSketch details the structures researchers believe were shaped by microbes
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