Early in its history, the red planet would have likely been habitable to methanogens – microbes that make a living in extreme habitats on Earth – according to a study that simulated the conditions on a young Mars.
If there ever was life on Mars – and that’s a huge “if” – conditions during the planet’s infancy most likely would have supported it, according to a new research study led by scientists from the University of Arizona.
Today Mars is dry and extremely cold, with a tenuous atmosphere. It is therefore extremely unlikely to sustain any form of life at the surface. However, according to the study, 4 billion years ago, Earth’s smaller, red neighbor may have been much more hospitable. The study was published on October 10 in the journal Nature Astronomy.
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