Glaciers on Mercury could support life, study says

In a recent study published in the Planetary Science Journal, scientists from the Planetary Science Institute (PSI) in Tucson, USA, reveal discoveries on the surface of Mercury that could revolutionize understanding of the geological history of the planet closest to the Sun. . What is new is evidence of potential glaciers that, although made of salt, suggest the presence of volatile-rich layers (VRLs)..

The presence of volatiles (water, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and others) on planets, especially those so close to the Sun, is surprising in the context of space exploration. In addition to subverting the understanding This finding sheds light on Mercury’s geological history, opening up possibilities for the planet to support life and even be colonized by humans..

These VRLs, which gave rise to Mercurian glaciers, would be deeply buried and subject to asteroid impacts, co-author Bryan Travis explained in a statement. “Our models strongly argue that salt runoff likely produced these glaciers and that these glaciers retained volatiles for billions of years after settling,” the researcher explained.

How important is the presence of glaciers on Mercury?

What caught the PSI researchers’ attention was the potential for these glaciers to harbor some types of bacteria. theoretically they can thrive in inhospitable environments, such as some environments on Earth.

Alexis Rodriguez, the lead author of the study, reminds us in his statement that “Certain salt compounds on Earth create habitable niches.” Even in the harshest environments where they occur, such as the arid Atacama Desert in Chile“. This could be a sign that possible underground areas on Mercury “may be more hospitable than its hard surface,” he concludes.

How did Mercury’s glaciers form?

To solve the mystery of the emergence of glaciers and chaotic terrain on Mercury, the team studied a region called the Borealis Chaos, a place rich in turbulent fields near the planet’s north pole. In these locations, Asteroid impacts have nearly destroyed craters, many of which date back to the early days of the planet’s formation..

Analysis of localized gravitational fields revealed ancient craters beneath the surface layer. By comparing the two layers, the researchers suggest that VLRs may have formed on top of already solid terrain.

Unlike previous approaches that talked about the differentiation of Mercury’s mantle, new evidence points to a global eventIt occurred due to the collapse of the hot planet’s atmosphere after its formation.

According to another theory, the study investigates the escape of volcanic gas that could form temporary pools of water or dense, highly salty steam and cause these deposits. In this way, large amounts of water would quickly disappear into space, some of it trapped between minerals, creating a layer rich in clay and salt.

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