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NASA scientists have discovered intriguing leopard spots on a Martian rock that might have been created by ancient life. The Perseverance rover collected the sample, named Sapphire Canyon, from the Neretva Vallis river valley, a region shaped by water over 3 billion years ago. NASA announced the findings on Wednesday (September 10), and a peer-reviewed paper detailing the analysis has been published in the journal Nature. However, further study is needed to confirm a biological origin.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said, "After a year of review, they have come back and they said, listen, we can’t find another explanation." This discovery could be the clearest sign of life on Mars yet. The rock was drilled from Cheyava Falls in July 2024, and scientists believe it could reveal whether microscopic life ever existed on Mars.
The rover's SHERLOC instrument detected organic compounds in the rock, which on Earth are the building blocks of life. The mottling might indicate ancient chemical reactions that supported microbial organisms. The presence of white veins of calcium sulfate suggests water once flowed through the rock, a crucial factor for life. The leopard spots, tested by the rover’s PIXL instrument, showed iron and phosphate, which might have resulted from chemical reactions with hematite, a mineral responsible for Mars’ red hue.
Perseverance has been exploring Jezero Crater since its landing in February 2021, searching for rocks created or modified by water. The rover has collected samples intended for return to Earth by future missions. However, NASA faces challenges in returning these samples due to budget constraints.
Nicky Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said, "Today, we are really showing you how we are kind of one step closer to answering humanity’s, one of their most profound questions, and that is, are we truly alone in the universe?"
The discovery marks a significant step in understanding Mars' history and the potential for life beyond Earth.