Evidence Of Life On Mars May Be Underground
Evidence Of Life On Mars May Be Underground
A new study suggests the ingredients for life have been present beneath the surface of the Red Planet for much of its history.
Minerals beneath the surface of Mars could hold the strongest evidence that the planet may once have supported life, according to new research.
Half of all life on Earth consists of simple micro-organism's hidden in rocks beneath the surface. Scientists have now suggested that the same may be true of Mars.
Research published in the journal Nature Geoscience suggests the ingredients of life have been present in the "Martian subsurface" - a zone up to three miles below the ground - for much of the Mars' history.
Many rocks brought up from the "Martian subsurface" contain clays and minerals whose chemical make-up has been altered by water, an essential element to support life.
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http://news.sky.com/story/1040483/evidence-of-life-on-mars-may-be-underground
