14 DAY TRIAL // We humans have been asking ourselves whether we are alone in the Universe for centuries now. What’s somewhat ironic is that, despite the fact that telescopes and satellites have made it possible for us to peer into the anatomy of the cosmos and study distant celestial systems in stunning detail, we are yet to find an answer to this question.
Then again, it looks like scientists aren’t even all that concerned with the possibility of finding life on planets far, far away. On the contrary, the one planet that they can’t seem to get enough of sits in our very own Solar System. Its name is Mars, and for years now, researchers have been bending over backwards trying to figure out whether it might have once been home to extraterrestrial life forms.
Plenty of other options to pick and choose from
Our Solar System formed 4.6 billion years ago and comprises the Sun and a whole lot of celestial bodies that orbit it. There are the eight planets that form the planetary system, dwarf planets that scientists describe as celestial bodies that, although big enough to be rounded by their gravity, are yet to clear the neighborhood around their orbit, and plenty of other bodies such as comets and asteroids.
Just for the record, it must be said that, until not very long ago, the Solar System comprised not eight but nine planets. No, one didn’t just disappear. Long story short, it was in 2006 that the International Astronomical Union decided to remove Pluto from the planetary system and list it as a dwarf planet. It was a low blow indeed, but word has it that Pluto has long overcome the psychological trauma.
Whatever games astronomers might like to play, the fact of the matter is that the Solar System is a fairly complex cosmic region and comprises a whole lot of celestial bodies. However, it is on Mars that researchers hope to find evidence of extraterrestrial life. Hence the fact that rovers are now roaming the planet and boy band’s worth of high-tech satellites are orbiting it.
So, why are we looking for life on Mars of all planets?
Of the planets that we are familiar with, the one that we know for sure has what it takes to sustain life is Earth. Because of this, astronomers who hope to find extraterrestrial life forms more often than not focus their attention on alien worlds that are similar or that at least used to resemble our planet. Mars is as popular as it is because it falls in the latter of these two categories.
In this day and age, Mars is a dry and barren place. However, in its younger days, it might have been life-friendly. Thus, evidence indicates that, at some point in its history, the Red Planet had liquid water flowing on and maybe even below its surface. What’s more, it experiences changes in seasons because, while the planet is busy orbiting the Sun, its poles end up pointing towards or away from it.
Although currently very thin and, therefore, exerting a pressure just 0.6% of the value of the one documented on Earth, Mars’ atmosphere contains trace amounts of water in the form of vapors. Besides, the Red Planet’s poles are home to icecaps that change in size depending on the season, much like our Arctic and Antarctica.
Because young Mars was quite similar to our home planet, scientists believe that it is possible that life emerged on it just as it did on Earth. The thing is that, as the Red Planet got older and its appearance changed to a considerable extent, it lost its ability to sustain life. Still, this does not change the fact that astronomers might still find the remains of ancient microorganisms on it.
So, just how close are we to finding life on Mars?
Not to burst anyone’s bubble or anything of the sorts, but the truth is that astronomers are a long way from finding life on Mars. Admittedly, they have made considerable progress, but the fact remains that we won’t be enjoying a cup of tea and some biscuits with odd-looking Martians anytime soon. Not unless they decide to come out of hiding and contact us.
Thus, scientists have so far only managed to detect the presence of organic molecules on Mars. True, such molecules are considered to be the building blocks of life, but no actual life forms, alive or dead, have until now been documented on the Red Planet. Still, this is no reason to give up hope. In fact, there are many who believe that it is only a matter of time until scientists find life on this planet.