Mars once had an oxygen-rich atmosphere like the Earth

Using a laser device at the Gale crater on Mars, Curiosity autonomous robots discovered rocks containing manganese oxide, a compound that requires oxygen to be formed . Since then, researchers from the Curiosity project have suggested that Mars may have owned an oxygen-rich atmosphere like our Earth.

For a long time in the past, Mars also had both water and protective magnetic fields like Earth now.

On Earth, minerals are a sign of the period when the atmosphere becomes rich in oxygen, largely due to bacteria."We have now seen manganese oxide on Mars and we are wondering how they can form," said researcher Nina Lanza at Los Alamos . In fact, scientists have not found evidence of past life on Mars, but they have another theory.

Accordingly, very long time in the past, Mars also has both water and magnetic protection like the Earth now. However once the protective magnetic field disappears, the radiation will ionize the water, separating them into hydrogen and oxygen. Then there will be more red rocks containing iron oxides that absorb oxygen, but the manga oxide requires more oxygen to form. Because of this, scientists believe that in the early stages of history, Mars has more oxygen than we thought.

Although the data above provides evidence for the sign of life on Mars as many people think, "it is very important to help us begin to understand the history of Mars and oxidation." in the atmosphere on it "Professor Lanza said. Although it will be difficult, researchers will have to continue to search for evidence to reinforce this hypothesis to lead to the ultimate goal of helping people increase their understanding of Mars, thereby turning their dreams. Mars settlement became closer to reality.