Canadian and American scientists have found signs of the possible existence of life on ancient Mars. A related study is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets and is briefly reported by the American Geophysical Society.
According to experts, the existence of suitable conditions for life in the past is indicated by the increased content of zinc and germanium in some areas of the Red Planet. These chemical elements, discovered by Curiosity, testify to the high hydrothermal activity that existed in ancient times on the Red Planet.
The concentrations of zinc and germanium in sedimentary rocks in the Gale crater area are ten to one hundred times higher than those for the rest of the Martian surface.
Earth's extreme hydrothermal vents, also rich in zinc and germanium, are home to primitive organisms. Probably, according to the authors, similar creatures could have lived on the Red Planet in the past, and it is possible that traces of them can be found.
The age of Gale crater (more than 150 kilometers in diameter) is estimated at 3.5 billion years, its bottom is filled with many eroded sedimentary rocks. In ancient times, the deepest parts of the crater were filled with water. In its center is Mount Sharp (Eolis) with a height of about 5.5 kilometers.
NASA's Mars rover Curiosity made its way to the Red Planet on November 26, 2011. Landing on Mars took place on August 6, 2012 in the area of Gale Crater. It is the third rover launched by NASA as part of the Mars Science Laboratory program.