Life may have existed 700 million years on Mars

Water is likely to be present for a very long time on Mars, enabling life to grow.

In two studies analyzing the individual findings of sediment samples collected by NASA's Curiosity at Mars's Gale pit, scientists believe that the planet once had more than a billion years of water, according to Arstechnica. .

The layers of rock on Mars.(Photo: NASA).

Placing the findings of Curiosity robot in the overall picture of the evolutionary history of the Gale hole on Mars, scientists believe that the Gale hole was once Gale Lake , covered by water for hundreds of millions of years in the warm period. pressure on this planet.

According to researchers, Gale Lake existed over many periods. The first materials that formed the bottom sediment layer appeared from the cold climate of Mars. During the warming period after that, Lake Gale dried up, becoming a sedimentary rock pit. Each layer of sediment has its own characteristic of the formation process.

Near the surface of Gale lakes, UV rays and oxygen in the atmosphere create an oxidizing environment, which oxidizes sulfur in the rock and eventually produces enough sulfuric acid to reduce the alkaline concentration. Deep down in the lake, oxygen is low and alkalinity is close to neutral level. The process of deposition of salt-rich substances takes place afterwards, most likely in the period of Mars losing most of the atmosphere and water evaporated.

Scientists estimate that Mars had a warm, life-friendly climate for about 700 million years, but ended at 3.1 billion years ago.

The wind then eroded the sediments on the bottom of Gale Lake. This process takes place long enough for sand and dust to separate from the bottom of Gale Lake to continue forming new sediments. According to both studies, groundwater still penetrates through some new sediments, leaving salt and minerals deposited.