Detecting salt deposits on Mars

US Aerospace Agency (NASA) on March 20 announced the Mars probe Mars Odyssey discovered evidence of salt sediments, dating back about 3.5 to 3.9 billion years, on Red planet, reinforcing the assumption that this planet might have life.

Xinhua News Agency reported that the research group led by University of Hawaii scientist Mikki Osterloo discovered traces of chloride minerals in about 200 locations spread over an area of ​​1 - 25 km ² in the south. Fire.

Professor Philip Christensen of Arizona State University, a member of the research team, thinks that this mineral is most likely edible salt ( sodium chloride ). "This means there has been a lot of water and a source of energy, namely sunlight, on Mars," he said, BBC quoted. In addition to salt deposits, scientists also say there is much evidence that Mars has experienced a warm and wet climate, not as cold and dry as it is today.

The discovery of salt on Mars is thought to be an interesting discovery for the scientific world, because salt can preserve organic matter, so if there was life on Mars, just analyze these salt deposits. They will have answers to whether or not life on Red Planet.

Photographs from the Mars Odyssey show that there may be a chloride salt compound on Mars (blue zone)

MINH ANH