NASA Mars Rover Perseverance has discovered rocks in a dried river channel that may hold signs of ancient microscopic life. Scientists announced the findings on Wednesday but stressed that detailed tests must be done on Earth before reaching conclusions.
NASA Mars Rover Perseverance has been exploring the red planet since 2021. It cannot directly detect life but uses a drill to collect rock samples. So far, the rover has gathered 30 samples, including the latest one from Neretva Vallis, a river channel that once carried water into Jezero Crater.
Lead researcher Joel Hurowitz from Stony Brook University said the rocks are the best candidates yet in the search for long-ago life. However, he cautioned that natural processes could also explain the features found in the sample.
The sample, collected last summer, contained reddish, clay-rich mudstones enriched with organic carbon and iron compounds. On Earth, such chemicals often form when microorganisms break down organic matter.
NASA had planned to return these samples to Earth by the early 2030s, but delays and rising costs pushed the timeline to the 2040s. Until then, scientists will rely on lab experiments and comparisons with Earthly environments like Antarctic lakes.
