New discovery of life survival under the surface of Mars

According to British scientists, it is very likely that life exists beyond Earth, deep below the surface of Mars.

Life on Mars

According to Guardian, analyzing meteorite samples shows that the sub-surface of Mars is an environment rich in methane (CH4) ideal for bacteria to grow. If there is life on Mars, it is most likely hidden beneath the surface of the planet.

There may be life on Mars.(Photo: Guarian)

When studying six rock samples from Martian meteorites in six different museums, scientists found that all of them contained methane. The oldest meteorite from Mars has the highest methane concentration.

This finding shows that bacteria that eat methane can survive in the soil of the red planet, " the Earth's biosphere is like the Earth". Analysis of two other meteorite samples not derived from Mars gives a much lower concentration of methane.

' We have not yet found true life on Mars, however, if it is true that there is life there, we will focus on searching on the sub-surface , ' said Nigel Blamey, head of the research team at Dai. Brock, Ontario said.

The surface of Mars has very harsh conditions, where the temperature is minus 90 degrees Celsius, not suitable for life. The conditions in the lower layer may be more favorable, at least for respiratory bacteria with methane instead of oxygen. Last year, NASA's Mars Curiosity robot observed methane flows on Mars, meaning that methane is still being created here.

However, this hypothesis is still a matter of controversy among scientists, planet scientist Monica Grady said. On Earth, methane is produced by bacteria that make methane (methanogens) and animals. Therefore, there is another theory that Mars could be formed in this way, more than 1 billion years ago, when the planet had water.

" Some bacteria make methane, some use methane, so we can't be sure which hypothesis is right," said Grady.

" The earliest life forms could have formed on Mars about 3.8 billion years ago, at the same time as life appeared on Earth. At that time Mars had water, atmosphere and magnetic fields, " said the teacher. Professor Andrew Coates, another planetary scientist at the University of London, said.

The upcoming ExoMars project of the European Space Agency (ESA) may provide some additional information on this issue when exploration robots land on Mars in 2019.