The European Space Agency (ESA) has shared intriguing images of a ‘smiley face’ shaped salt deposit on Mars, captured by its ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. This unusual formation, resembling an emoticon, has piqued scientists’ interest as it might hold clues to the planet’s past, particularly regarding ancient life forms.
Billions of years ago, Mars was home to expansive lakes and rivers that disappeared following a global freeze. Researchers now suggest that this unique salt deposit could be hiding remnants of hardy microbes that might have survived the planet’s drastic climate changes.
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, designed to search for signs of life and study Martian atmospheric gases, has provided detailed images of these chloride salt deposits. These deposits are thought to be remnants of ancient water bodies, and their study could shed light on Mars’ past climate and potential habitability.
In its social media post, ESA highlighted the significance of these findings: “Why so serious? Once a world of rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans, Mars now reveals its secrets through chloride salt deposits found by our ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. These deposits, remnants of ancient water bodies, could indicate habitable zones from billions of years ago.”
Valentin Bickel, a planetary scientist from the University of Bern, explained the implications of the discovery: “A cold era began when Mars lost its magnetic field and could no longer hold its atmosphere, leading to water evaporating, freezing, or becoming trapped within the surface. Very salty waters could have become a haven for life, a beacon for habitable places on Mars.”
The post by ESA has gained considerable attention, accumulating over 11,000 likes and numerous comments since its release. Reactions range from admiration of the ‘beautiful’ imagery to humorous remarks about the ‘cheesy’ appearance of the deposit.
One comment noted the lack of scale references in the images, expressing a desire for more context to gauge the size of these formations. Overall, the discovery of nearly a thousand potential sites offers fresh insights into Mars’ climate history and the possibility of past life.
This find underscores the ongoing fascination with Mars and the continuing efforts to uncover its many mysteries. As research progresses, these salt deposits could provide valuable information about the planet’s ancient environment and its capacity to support life.