Evidences on the possible existence of life in Mars

Scientists have long pondered about the possible existence of life in Mars. As senior high students in our institution, we consider Mars as the most fascinating planet now because of its widespread speculations of life overheard in the news and written in the paper. As we were researching on evidences, we have encountered a lot of awesome features and information about Mars.

In the mid-19 century, astronomers knew that Mars had certain similarities to earth. Observations led to increase in speculation that that Mars may be inhabited by life. In the mid-1970’s, Viking probes were put to mission to carry out experiment to detect microorganisms in Martian soil. Mars Global Surveyor, a lander, confirmed that Mars no longer possessed global magnetic field, allowing lie-threatening radiation of cosmic rays to reach the planets surface. Thus, helped the solar wind blow away much of Mars’ atmosphere over the years. A Mars’ meteorite (ALH84001) has grown result which concluded that it contained fossilized microbes. NASA, in March in the year 2004, announced that “Opportunity” had discovered evidence that Mars was a wet planet in the ancient past. In the same year and time, Mars Express reported detecting methane in Marsian atmosphere. Scientists proposed a process called “serpentinization” that could explain the presence of methane. In December 2006, NASA showed images suggesting that water is coursed in cater and even deposits of sediments are to be found. In May 2007, Spirit, the Mars rover, reportedly discovered the presence of silica showcasing that the past environment of the planet would have been perfect for microbial life.

Recently, NASA’s Phoenix Mars lander is now out on its mission to pursue water in the planet. The Phoenix will scan the Martian atmosphere up to 20 km in altitude. The goal of the spacecraft is to check whether subsurface samples of Martian soil hold carbon-containing compounds that are essential ingredients of life.

Primary Source: www. wikipedia.com

Summarized and eddited by: Michelle Dianne Salcedo