- KR Bharat
- 2025-09-24
Possible Martian Biosignatures in Jezero Crater
A recent study led in part by Texas A&M University geologist Dr. Michael Tice points to chemical clues in Martian rocks that may signal traces of ancient microbial life. The evidence comes from samples analyzed by NASA's Perseverance rover
An international group of researchers reported their results after examining a section of Jezero Crater called the The Bright Angel formation The name was inspired by places in Grand Canyon National Park and refers to the pale color of the rocks in that region. Bright Angel lies within the Neretva Vallis channel and contains mudstones packed with oxidized iron (rust), phosphorus, sulfur, and most importantly, organic carbon. While organic carbon has been detected on Mars before, often from sources like meteorites, this particular mix of elements could have provided an energy supply for primitive organisms.
