NASA announced that the Mars rover Perseverance has discovered possible signs of ancient life in the Lake Crater. A sample taken in 2024 from the Cheyava Falls rock in the Bright Angel Formation recorded potential biosignatures—traces that may have a biological origin.
The study describes the minerals in the Sapphire Canyon sample. Among them, they found iron phosphates and sulfides — compounds that are often formed on Earth with the participation of microorganisms. On the surface of the rock, the Perseverance PIXL and SHERLOC instruments recorded colored “spots,” which the researchers dubbed “leopard spots.” Scientists assume that they could have arisen as a result of the interaction of organic matter with sedimentary deposits.
At the same time, scientists emphasize that similar minerals can also appear in a non-biological way – under the influence of high temperatures or an acidic environment. However, there are no signs of such processes in the Bright Angel formation, which makes a biological interpretation more likely, although there is no final confirmation yet.
It is interesting that these possible traces of life are preserved in some of the youngest sedimentary rocks studied by the mission. This may indicate that conditions suitable for life have existed on Mars longer than previously thought.
Since landing in 2021, Perseverance has collected 27 rock samples and is conducting parallel experiments that pave the way for future missions to return samples to Earth and send humans to Mars.
