Mars, new discovery by Curiosity rekindles the hunt for life

NASA Curiosity Rover has been submitted to investigate life on Mars. For this purpose, they analyze the rocks samples from the red plant. They found clay, a crucial ingredient for life, and a carbon isotope associated with biological processes on EarthEarth. So they intended to see what causes the past life to vanish out and what could result in future life. For this purpose, they formulate hypotheses published in the American Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal by Penn State University and NASA. Carbon is considered an essential element for the lives of both Plants( Phtosycthesis) and humans( Chemical reactions). The study is based on analyzes carried out by Curiosity’s onboard laboratory on 24 rock samples taken from five different areas of the Gale crater, where the rover landed on August 6, 2012. Upon investigation from the ancient rocks, it was suggested that it has more C12 than Earth, which directs towards life in those rocks, Gale crater. The NASA Curiosity team gives biological explanations for their hypothesis. They report that ancient bacteria on the surface would have produced a unique carbon. Because bacteria release Methan, which would have converted the gas into a more significant quantity upon colliding with Ultra Violate radiations, other explanations say it is because of galaxies’ radiation millions of years ago. They also noticed samples of ancient mudstone, dated back (3.5 billion years ago and just 400m apart), contained only half the expected amount of clay minerals and a greater quantity of iron oxides. These compounds give Mars its rusty hue. The team explained the removal of old lives as the process of chemical transformation called diagenesis. The salty water Brine would have washed out many layers of the evidence of ancient lives. The research done by Curiosity has revealed how the Martian climate changed and helped identify which soil samples to collect to increase the odds of finding life.

The search for life on Mars has been given new initiative by a recent study that could have triangulated the possible location of the six methane emissions detected by the Curiosity rover during its time in Gale crater, Live Science reported.