Researchers at the Centre
of Astrobiology have positively identified microorganisms living inside
salt deposits in the acidic and ferrous environment of the Tinto River
in Huelva, Spain.
Interestingly, the extreme conditions of these microniches appear to be similar to those of the salt deposits on Mars and Jupiter's moon, Europa.
According to researcher Felipe Gómez, the high doses of radiation, lack of moisture and extreme temperature and pressure on the surface of Mars make the development of life difficult. Nevertheless, within this hostile environment, scientists are searching for "friendlier" niches that could encourage life, including salt deposits.
Indeed, a team from the Centre of Astrobiology (CAB, INTA-CSIC) recently analyzed a similar environment on Earth: the salt deposits associated to a mineral with sulphur and iron named natrojarosite. It can be found in the Río Tinto basin in Huelva and is very close to one detected on Mars: jarosite. Its presence reveals the past or present existence of water.
"The salt deposits are good 'hosts' for biological remains and even life itself in extreme circumstances," Gomez explained.
"The reason is that conditions in this environment remain less adverse than those of their surroundings given that they provide protection from radiation, [while] keeping moisture levels higher than outside.
With the help of microscopic techniques and molecular ecology, the team has discovered a film of bacteria and algae living in salt 'microniches' invisible to the naked eye. Up to five different morphologies have been found of microorganisms belonging to the Dunaliella and Cyanidium genera.
The analyzed deposits have been formed by layers each with a width of just a few millimetres. They make up a "completely different" ecosystem to the strange environment of Río Tinto.
"The precipitated minerals could only have been formed in such an acidic environment like this one and it is still even home to microbial communities in development. In other words, here they find their ideal environment," said Gómez.
"[As such], the discovery of these protected microniches in one of Mars' analogue on Earth, like Río Tinto, is an important step in evaluating the habitability potential of the Red Planet."
To be sure, NASA's Mars Global Surveyor probe has already detected alluvial fan-shaped salt formations on the Martian surface and scientists believe they could exist below the frozen ocean of one of Jupiter's satellites, Europa.
"From the astrological point of view, salt deposits are of great importance and should be considered when searching for life on space exploration missions, like the current Curiosity rover mission on Mars. In fact, salt deposits of astrobiological interest have been found not far from where the NASA rover is," he added.
Interestingly, the extreme conditions of these microniches appear to be similar to those of the salt deposits on Mars and Jupiter's moon, Europa.
According to researcher Felipe Gómez, the high doses of radiation, lack of moisture and extreme temperature and pressure on the surface of Mars make the development of life difficult. Nevertheless, within this hostile environment, scientists are searching for "friendlier" niches that could encourage life, including salt deposits.
Indeed, a team from the Centre of Astrobiology (CAB, INTA-CSIC) recently analyzed a similar environment on Earth: the salt deposits associated to a mineral with sulphur and iron named natrojarosite. It can be found in the Río Tinto basin in Huelva and is very close to one detected on Mars: jarosite. Its presence reveals the past or present existence of water.
"The salt deposits are good 'hosts' for biological remains and even life itself in extreme circumstances," Gomez explained.
"The reason is that conditions in this environment remain less adverse than those of their surroundings given that they provide protection from radiation, [while] keeping moisture levels higher than outside.
With the help of microscopic techniques and molecular ecology, the team has discovered a film of bacteria and algae living in salt 'microniches' invisible to the naked eye. Up to five different morphologies have been found of microorganisms belonging to the Dunaliella and Cyanidium genera.
The analyzed deposits have been formed by layers each with a width of just a few millimetres. They make up a "completely different" ecosystem to the strange environment of Río Tinto.
"The precipitated minerals could only have been formed in such an acidic environment like this one and it is still even home to microbial communities in development. In other words, here they find their ideal environment," said Gómez.
"[As such], the discovery of these protected microniches in one of Mars' analogue on Earth, like Río Tinto, is an important step in evaluating the habitability potential of the Red Planet."
To be sure, NASA's Mars Global Surveyor probe has already detected alluvial fan-shaped salt formations on the Martian surface and scientists believe they could exist below the frozen ocean of one of Jupiter's satellites, Europa.
"From the astrological point of view, salt deposits are of great importance and should be considered when searching for life on space exploration missions, like the current Curiosity rover mission on Mars. In fact, salt deposits of astrobiological interest have been found not far from where the NASA rover is," he added.
Mystery Flower On Mars
Mysterious picture taken by the Mars Curiosity rover has more than a few people scratching their rocket scientist heads.
Some are calling the object a flower. Analysis has determined that this is not a piece of the rover itself, as has been the case in the past, and is attached to the rock rather than sitting on it.
It looks more like a fungus than a flower to me.
But then its opalescent sheen is reminiscent of a slime mold as well
Which is not to suggest that the discovery of either would be nay less momentous, any form of life past or present on the surface of Mars widens our knowledge of how and where life is capable of evolving and thriving and helps us understand our place in the Universe better. And I am in no way qualified to suggest either of the above as possibilities for what this discovery may be, only voicing my observation. This object could very well, likely is not representative of life of any kind.
Growing up in the 70′s I remember there was a kit you could buy with a small tank and a few “seeds.” You put water in the tank and added the seeds and grew your own crystal fantasy landscape in a jar. Many crystals grow in water like these boric crystals.
which do bear a small resemblance to the martin mystery object
But even these sorts of grown crystals give evidence of flowing water on the surface of Mars and promise we may be able to someday probe the history of the red planet as gas bubbles caught within crystal matrices can give an idea of ancient atmosphere, just as we have learned of the ancient Earth by analysing bubbles trapped in amber.
Then again, maybe some Martian Princess dropped her earring.
There may be no answer to the identity of this object that does not come out as a significant discovery for our exploration of our nearest neighbours.
Henry Paterson
Henry@GhostTheory.com
http://www.ghosttheory.com
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