“Ancient extraterrestrial life under the surface of Mars”, according to scientists
Volcanic activity on Mars means that there is a source of heat under its surface that provides the right conditions for extraterrestrial life. This was reported by the scientific publication Nature Astronomy.
For decades, it was believed that there might be extraterrestrial life on Mars . But new research supports the idea that an ancient civilization may have inhabited the depths of the red planet.
Extraterrestrial life on Mars?
Beneath the red planet’s northern plains, experts have found a gigantic 4,000-kilometer reservoir of molten rock that provides the exact conditions in which microbes thrive on Earth.
The discovery of this warming volcanic environment is the most exciting news for researchers looking for life in the Solar System .
Jeff Andrews-Hanna , co-author of the study, claimed that microbes on Earth thrive in such conditions. This can also happen on Mars.
Andrews-Hanna’s colleague Adrien Broquet also added that the study shows ample evidence pointing to the presence of a large active mantle plume on present-day Mars.
For decades, Mars was considered the geologically dead planet . That’s because it hasn’t had any earthquakes or volcanic activity in the last 3 billion years. But this new study suggests it’s very much alive.
Andrews-Hanna explained:
“We have strong evidence for mantle plume activity on Earth and Venus. But this is unexpected for a planet as cold as Mars.”
Scientists have concluded that volcanic activity is still happening on Mars, potentially creating favorable conditions for extraterrestrial life, even microbial ones.
Volcanic activity on the red planet
This tremendous volcanic activity , early in the planet’s history, led to the formation of the tallest volcanoes in the Solar System and covered much of the Northern Hemisphere with volcanic deposits.
The Elysium Planita region near the equator of Mars , unlike other regions that have not shown significant volcanic activity for millions of years, has produced large eruptions during the last 200 million years.
The team of experts found evidence of the youngest known volcanic eruption in this region.
“It was a small volcanic ash ejection about 53,000 years ago, which is essentially yesterday in geological time.”
Broquet explained that it is known that there are no tectonic plates on Mars , so it is being investigated whether the activity observed in the region of Cerberus Fossae could be the result of a mantle plume.
Experts obtained information from seismic data recorded by the InSight spacecraft , which landed on the Red Planet four years ago. Fortunately, the probe landed right on top of an active mantle plume.
It is possible that this is one of the clearest scientific evidence of possible extraterrestrial life on the red planet. Although experts assure that it is necessary to investigate further the volcanic activity of Mars.
