Life Under Mars’ Protective Layer

Conditions just beneath Mars’ surface could provide a sanctuary for simple life forms, shielding them from the planet's thin atmosphere. Here, life might utilize energy from Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCRs), which can infiltrate deep into the Martian crust, facilitating organic reactions. These microscopic entities may also draw moisture from minute pockets of water.

“Currently, there’s no evidence of biological activity on the Martian surface; however, the subsurface conditions, which remain uncharted, are less severe and contain traces of water in the form of ice and brines. Additionally, they undergo radiation-driven redox chemistry,” noted researchers in an article published in Scientific Reports.

The History of Water on Mars

Mars was once believed to have vast oceans, rivers, and streams. Recent discoveries have bolstered the theory of ancient water on the Red Planet, intensifying the quest for evidence of past or present life.

Eons ago, water vanished from the Martian surface, leaving behind small, icy reservoirs of brine just below the crust. These tiny pools may extend from about a meter (three feet) to several kilometers beneath Mars.

For any lifeforms residing in these briny pockets, survival would require enduring extremely cold temperatures, high radiation levels, and very low atmospheric pressure.

Previous missions, such as the Viking landers four decades ago, hinted at potential life on Mars. However, those results were inconclusive, as the extreme radiation on the surface makes it improbable for life to flourish there.

The Rosalind Franklin Rover: A Pioneering Mission

The ExoMars 2022 mission, a collaborative effort between the European Space Agency and Roscosmos, aims to uncover subsurface life on Mars. Researchers like Atri and his team are developing methods to detect life beneath the surface during this mission.

“It’s thrilling to think that life could persist just two meters below Mars’ surface. The Rosalind Franklin rover, equipped with a subsurface drill, is perfectly designed to identify existing microbial life and provide significant insights,” stated Dimitra Atri, an astrophysicist at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Named after a pioneering figure in genetic science, the Rosalind Franklin rover will be the first to explore beneath Mars’ surface.

> “We’ve gotta become the Martians. I’m a Martian — I tell you to become Martians. And we’ve gotta go to Mars and civilize Mars and build a whole civilization on Mars and then move out, 300 years from now into the universe. And when we do that, we have a chance of living forever.” — Ray Bradbury

The Legacy of Rosalind Franklin

Franklin, who was born in 1920 and passed away at the age of 37, made groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of DNA. Her work produced the most accurate double helix image of DNA strands using X-rays, revolutionizing biology and leading to significant advancements in DNA technology, according to Jim Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute.

Future Missions and Discoveries

The Hope mission from the United Arab Emirates is also contributing crucial data regarding Martian water. By analyzing this information, scientists aim to better understand how water has permanently vanished from Mars’ surface. This research could eventually help answer some of the most pressing questions in planetary science: “Did life ever exist on Mars?” and “Can humans inhabit the Red Planet?”

The Hope orbiter is scheduled to arrive at Mars in 2021, delivering an unprecedented examination of the Martian atmosphere.

Humanity has long aspired to discover life on Mars, and that moment may soon be within reach.

James Maynard is the founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion. A New England native, he now resides in Tucson with his wife, Nicole, and their cat, Max.

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