TL;DR: they have found patterns on a rock that are similar to stuff that forms with microbial life. But it could have also formed in a non-lifey way. They need to investigate further to know what’s up.
We have seen almost these exact formations on earth, where they are created by microbiological lifeforms which could survive in the condition of how we expect ancient Mars was like when this sediment was formed.
We have been able to reproduce similar patterns in the lab, but only in conditions with much higher temperatures or with much higher acidity than what we’d expect Mars to have been like back then.
So the possible options are:
Ancient Mars was how we expect it to have been, and these patterns were formed by ancient microbiological, Martian lifeforms.
These patterns were formed by a known chemical process, and ancient Mars was much hotter or more acidic (or both) than we expected based on all other research.
These patterns were formed by a currently unknown chemical process that does not require the high temperature of acidity that the known processes require.
So in this case it’s not just wishful thinking. The hypothesis of this being formed by microbiological life is the hypothesis that best fits with what we currently know about the conditions in which the sediment was formed (which doesn’t fully prove that it’s true, but does give it credibility). And even if options 2 or 3 will end up being the right explanation, then we’ll still at least learn something interesting from this.
TL;DR: they have found patterns on a rock that are similar to stuff that forms with microbial life. But it could have also formed in a non-lifey way. They need to investigate further to know what’s up.
Then I guess that’s what it is.
As the golden rule states: it’s never aliens.
:/
In this case it’s somewhat different.
We have seen almost these exact formations on earth, where they are created by microbiological lifeforms which could survive in the condition of how we expect ancient Mars was like when this sediment was formed.
We have been able to reproduce similar patterns in the lab, but only in conditions with much higher temperatures or with much higher acidity than what we’d expect Mars to have been like back then.
So the possible options are:
Ancient Mars was how we expect it to have been, and these patterns were formed by ancient microbiological, Martian lifeforms.
These patterns were formed by a known chemical process, and ancient Mars was much hotter or more acidic (or both) than we expected based on all other research.
These patterns were formed by a currently unknown chemical process that does not require the high temperature of acidity that the known processes require.
So in this case it’s not just wishful thinking. The hypothesis of this being formed by microbiological life is the hypothesis that best fits with what we currently know about the conditions in which the sediment was formed (which doesn’t fully prove that it’s true, but does give it credibility). And even if options 2 or 3 will end up being the right explanation, then we’ll still at least learn something interesting from this.
Yep.
But honestly to expect much else is unrealistic. At least in modern times.
The more we fail to find evidence of past life on mars. The more likely the things we look at are not oing to be a sign.
Unfortunately it is the only planet we have current exploration on.
Well other then earth. And we long since prooved no intelligent life there.
We do have a couple of moons that hold some promise. Hopefully we will launch robotic exploration there within my lifetime.
Unfortunately science funding for such exploration is getting harder each year.