Auspicious Environment for Life on Mars

Scientists have discovered a structure on Mars which was considered to be an auspicious environment for developing life. The strange depression from the surface of Mars was analyzed by NASA’s researchers. They considered that relief structure to have the perfect conditions able to sustain life.

• Scientists still believe that there is life on Mars.
• They have revealed some strange landforms which signal the existence of some crucial components.

The depression was thought to preserve three crucial components which can support life such as nutrients, auspicious temperatures, and water. The stable structure shaped like a channel seemed to be similar to a relief structure from Earth called ‘ice cauldrons.’

These structures have appeared as a phenomenon which accompanied eruptions of the volcanoes situated underneath the ice layers fro Greenland and Iceland. If the funnel on Mars occurred due to the same or similar events, then it must have preserved some traces of nutrients and water.

Joseph Levy, the lead researcher of the study from the University of Texas, has claimed that the reason for which he and his team started analyzing this amazing landscape on Mars was that they have thought that it might preserve some key components. These elements are believed to be able to build an auspicious environment for life to develop.

The depression is situated in the region known as Hellas Planitia, inside a crater, in the southern hemisphere of the Red Planet. The basin called Hellas Planitia is a massive basin itself, being the widest impact crater existing in the Solar System. This landform is marked by other smaller craters from previous impacts.

Thus, scientists have interpreted this as a sign that the Hellas Planitia is one of the oldest formations on Mars. This spectacular depression or funnel was first identified back in 2009 by Levy. He had analyzed some pictures captured by the NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Thus, Levy revealed that another impressive basin on Mars called Utopia Planitia presented a similar landform.

Levy argued that the structures have triggered scientists’ curiosity because of their shape. Apparently, they look akin to a bull’s eye. This kind of pattern can also be observed in many landforms existing on Earth. The scientists had finally managed to gather enough data to develop a theory about these strange landforms. He asserted that these funnels were mapped by his team after reconfiguring and editing 2D images into 3D.

Image source: wikipedia