A peculiar ‘smiley face’-shaped salt deposit on Mars has captured the attention of scientists, who believe it may offer clues to one of the planet’s greatest mysteries: the potential remnants of ancient microbial life. The discovery, made by the European Space Agency‘s (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, is sparking hope that this deposit could harbor microbes that once thrived in Mars’ now-extinct water bodies.
The Red Planet, which billions of years ago was home to vast lakes, rivers, and possibly oceans, underwent a catastrophic freeze when it lost its magnetic field and atmosphere, causing water to either evaporate or freeze. As the liquid vanished, mineral-rich salt deposits were left behind, potentially preserving ancient signs of life.
According to planetary scientist Valentin Bickel from the University of Bern, high concentrations of salt in these deposits could allow water to remain liquid at extremely low temperatures, providing a possible refuge for life even as Mars became inhospitable.
The ESA’s satellite images of the salt deposits, shared widely on social media, have fueled excitement about the possibility of discovering evidence of ancient microbial life. The research, recently published in Scientific Data, suggests that Mars’ chloride deposits may point to habitable zones from billions of years ago.
While the ‘smiley face’ shape has sparked curiosity and humor among online users, the potential implications of these findings are profound. If future missions can confirm the presence of ancient microbial life in these salt deposits, it would mark a monumental discovery in the ongoing search for life beyond Earth.
