The possibility of life beyond Earth has fascinated humans for centuries. As technology progressed, the search for life elsewhere in the universe intensified. Today, with the help of state-of-the-art telescopes, we can see very distant objects, but evidence of life has not been found anywhere yet. However, new research suggests that life may perhaps exist on Mars. This research has been presented by Aditya Khullar; a researcher associated with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) of the US space agency NASA.
According to new research, conditions for photosynthesis may exist beneath dusty ice in the mid-latitude regions of Mars. The mid-latitude regions of Mars are the areas between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres. These areas are believed to have a lot of water ice beneath the surface, protected under rocky material that can be several meters thick.
Meaning of photosynthesis on Mars:
Photosynthesis is the process that makes vegetative life possible on Earth. Through this, plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight into carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose. Photosynthesis is responsible for producing most of the oxygen present in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Khullar has proposed in his research that a sufficiently thick layer of ice on Mars could act as a shield against the sun’s radiation. At the same time, it allows enough light for photosynthesis to occur, creating a ‘habitable zone’. According to Khullar, if we can find life anywhere in the universe, then the ice on Mars is probably one of the most accessible places.
The research does not clearly say whether there is life on Mars or whether there was life once, but it definitely tells where life can be discovered.
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Why is there so much hope for life on Mars?
Like Earth, Mars also falls in the Sun’s ‘habitable zone’. This is the area near a star where the temperature is so high that water can exist. About 70% of the Earth is submerged in water, but Mars is dry. However, many NASA missions have given evidence that water was once present on the red planet.
According to scientists, liquid water on Mars ended billions of years ago. This happened due to the collapse of its magnetic field and the planet’s exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Mars has 30 percent more harmful ultraviolet rays than Earth because there is no protective shield like the ozone layer.
