By D. W. G. Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes News
To uncover the possibility of life beneath Mars' surface, scientists are turning to some of the oldest and deepest forms of life on Earth for clues. Recent discoveries on Mars suggest that the planet, often dubbed the red planet, may also be a wet one, with substantial water reserves hidden deep within its rocky crust.
On August 12, U.S. researchers revealed evidence of a massive reservoir of liquid water buried deep within Mars' crust. This discovery was made possible by NASA's Mars Insight Lander, which recorded over 1,300 Marsquakes over four years. The seismic waves, studied by a team led by Vashan Wright from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, indicated that these waves had traveled through layers of wet rock. While Mars' surface remains an arid desert, this new data suggests that significant volumes of water are trapped in rocks located between 11.5 and 20 kilometers (7.1-12.4 miles) below the surface.
The Deep Biosphere, A Glimpse into Earth's Subsurface Life
The possibility of underground water on Mars opens up the tantalizing prospect of subterranean life. For over three decades, biologists have been uncovering evidence of life thriving deep underground on Earth. Researchers have drilled into the seafloor and continental crust, discovering life forms in sediments and even within layers of solid rock. These deep dwelling organisms are primarily single celled microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea, which are among the oldest forms of life on Earth, having existed for over three billion years.
The deep biosphere on Earth is incredibly diverse, with many different types of organisms living far beneath the surface. While most of these microorganisms are not dependent on sunlight, they rely on chemosynthesis, obtaining energy through chemical reactions involving the surrounding rocks and water. This process allows them to survive in environments completely disconnected from the surface, where no sunlight or nutrients from above reach them.
The Potential for Martian Life, Clues from Earth's Subsurface
The discovery of underground water on Mars suggests that, like Earth, the planet might harbor life deep below its surface. Martian life, if it exists, could be similar to the chemosynthetic microbes found deep within Earth's oceans and continental crust. These microbes, some of the oldest and most resilient forms of life on our planet, may also thrive in the water rich rocks beneath Mars' surface, potentially clinging to life despite limited nutrients.
While the surface of Mars is cold and dry, with no direct evidence of life, the presence of methane plumes in the Martian atmosphere offers intriguing hints. On Earth, methane is often produced by microorganisms, leading to speculation that similar processes could be occurring on Mars. However, scientists caution that non biological processes could also explain the presence of methane.
The biggest question remains whether life ever emerged on Mars in the first place. If it did, there is a strong possibility that it still survives in the planet's subsurface. However, finding this life would require drilling deep into Mars' crust, a challenging task even on Earth, let alone on a distant planet. Despite the obstacles, the potential discovery of a Martian deep biosphere could revolutionize our understanding of life beyond Earth.
