NASA announced the detection of a series Possible biofirs This would indicate The existence of life on Marseither in the past, or in the present. This is the recent news that go around the world, but is it true in Jaja -Vyu? The reality is that NASA, as well as other scientists and space agencies made advertising for a long time. They usually do this carefully, not forgetting to combine the verbs in the conditional. Nevertheless, sometimes the media and our hopes to live a historical (and harmless) moment forces us to read it with a little less caution. Therefore, when it was finally demonstrated that the results were not related to life on Mars, we were slightly down. What’s happening? Why does everything ultimately become false anxiety?
As a rule, when possible traces of life were found on Mars The presence of organic molecules. These are molecules that make up living creatures. They can be, for example, produced Microbial metabolismThe field because yes, if you were on Mars, most likely, these are microorganisms instead of green human ones.
Just finding microorganisms would be of great news. What we have been waiting for so long. However, it is important to remember that organic molecules can also be produced Abiotic reactions, For example, those that occur in some geological processes. This is why news like the one that has just released POT They should always be taken using tweezers. This time is good, yes, but it will probably still be. What happens then? Is there a reason why possible biofirs are always discarded?
Long life story Search on Mars
He worked in the seventeenth century, when some scientists using their telescopes found what they looked like Ice traces on MarsThe field later, in 1781, the astronomer William Gershel confirmed that these curious traces may have come from frozen water and, therefore, Mars can place some way of life. In the end, water is one of the essential ingredients for the existence of life.
Science needed to advance a lot in order to already in the twentieth century, The first unmanned missions This will bring much more specific data on the Red Planet. The existence of ice was confirmed, but also the presence of destroyed areas, so, perhaps, at some moment they were Rivers of liquid water. There could be life on Mars or even exist. But organic molecules are also needed. They mainly consist of carbon and hydrogen, Although they can also have other elements such as oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen. As we have already advanced, they can be The result of both biological and non -biological processes. Nevertheless, they are so common in biological processes that their search is always the cause of hope.
Great achievements of the 21st century
Already in the 21st century, two great titans of life search on Mars were sent: Curiosity and persistently.
The first made his first excellent conclusion in 2018. He discovered, among other interesting parameters, that Methane level in the atmosphere Marciana has changed seasonally for 3 years Martian. Methane often occurs as a result of the metabolism of microorganisms, so he soon appeared the first noticeable news about optimism: curiosity found possible signs of life on Mars.
However, methane can also occur through Geological processes And, most likely, this took place, since it was impossible to find some other test that confirms this hypothesis.
Only a year later, a former NASA scientist, Gilbert V. Levinmade several statements about the most amazing. As explained in the article Scientific AmericanIn fact, his agency has already found life on Mars many years ago. He said that it was in the experiment, which was part of the Vikings mission in 1970.
This experiment was to apply nutrients in the soil and check whether gases occurred as a result of its microbial decomposition. Then, to make sure that this is not by chance, they would repeat the process, but adding to the Earth a fatal substance for living organisms. In this case, gases should not be produced. The results were expected if there was life on Mars. However, according to Levin, They did not come out Because NASA could not reproduce them. It was concluded that it would be an abiotic chemical reaction and that it was not a Martian life signal. However, Levin continued to claim that for him they discovered this life.
We continue with curiosity …
A few years later, curiosity returned to the load. This time, when analyzing samples extracted from the Gale crater in the period from 2012 to 2021, they found Carbon isotopes This may mean the presence of a life conducting something similar to Carbon cycle This happens on Earth. This is the cycle by which the carbon present on our planet moves between inert sources and living organisms. For example, from land to plants. Unfortunately, although this was originally considered as a possible sign of life on Mars, there were many abiotic options that would explain their presence.
And we went in 2025. In March of this year, curiosity discovered The longest carbon chain is still On Mars. Although carbon molecules are usually more associated with living organisms, they can also be found in inert sources. However, when they are very long chains of carbon, they are usually associated with a living organism. The presence of this long chain may mean that there is life on Mars. But this can also be originally, which has nothing to do with it. And not such a long chain that it is impossible so that its origin is not a life on Mars.
What has NASA found now?
This time it was not a curiosity of Rover, responsible for the conclusion, but perseverance. A series of stones was found in Jezero Crater with organic carbon and textures that can be associated with Biological signaturesThere are the latter fields Knings and a kind of brandsThe called Leopard Marks, which are very similar to some brands that arise as a result of biological processes, occurred here on Earth.
But again, NASA insists on this You cannot assure you that there is life on Mars With this conclusion. It is interesting and gives a thread, but it was thrown from the same stream many times and always ends.
Why is it so difficult to find life on Mars?
It can be so difficult for people to find life on Mars simply because no. Nevertheless, there are studies that indicate what possible causes can be. One of the most curious was published in 2023. He showed the results of use in Atacama desert Some of the most dotted tools for life on Mars. This desert, located in Chile, is one of the main Martian analogues What we have on Earth. It has many characteristics with the red planet, with the difference that it is very clear that it has life. Nevertheless, the analyzed tools did not give the entire biofirm that they had to find.
This will mean that perhaps life was not found on Mars, because we still do not have tools. Meanwhile, we will have to continue to dream that false anxieties once cease to be. We do not know when this will happen; But, if the day comes, it will certainly be very exciting.
Source: Hiper Textual
