NASA Finds Potential Evidence of Ancient Life on Mars
Jakarta,CNN Indonesia – NASA announced a possibly groundbreaking discovery that could be the clearest proof of ancient life on Planet Mars. This finding stems from unique, leopard-like spots collected by the Perseverance rover in July 2024.
In an official proclamation on Wednesday (11/9), NASA stated that the latest analysis of stone samples from a location called Cheyava falls, in the Valley Vallatva Vallis, reveals the possibility of biosignatures – chemical signs or textures that might be produced by biological processes.
“After a year of reviewing, they returned and said, ‘We did not find other explanations,'” said Sean Duffy, temporary official of NASA administrator, launching CNN thursday (11/9).
“So this is very possible to be the most obvious sign of life we have ever found on Mars,” he continued.
The stone sample, nicknamed Sapphire Canyon, exhibits a pattern of black spots, which scientists have referred to as ‘poppy seeds’ and ‘leopard spots’. This feature was found in a rock formation called Shining angel, which formed in an ancient lake habitat more than 3 billion years ago.
The Sherloc instrument on the Perseverance rover detected the presence of organic compounds, the basic building blocks of carbon-based life. Additionally, white calcium sulfate veins where found, indicating that water once flowed through the stone.
This finding is reinforced by data from the Pixl instrument.