Ancient Mars Could Harbor Life-Bearing Environments in the Eridania Region
An international team of planetary scientists from China and the United States has outlined compelling evidence for possible habitable settings in Mars’ ancient past. The discovery appears in Nature Astronomy, a leading scientific journal, where researchers describe how certain Martian landscapes may have hosted life-supporting conditions billions of years ago. (Nature Astronomy, NatAstro)
The region in focus is Eridania, a vast volcanic basin in the planet’s southern hemisphere. Covering an area roughly the size of Earth’s Arabian Peninsula, Eridania is one of the most intriguing ancient terrains on Mars because of its geothermal and hydrologic history. The team suggests that large basins within this area were once the site of a mile-deep lake system, referred to as Lake Paleo-Eridania, creating a substantial water reservoir on the Martian surface. Near this ancient basin, long-lived volcanic springs may have fed hydrothermal systems that provided chemical energy and warmth, potentially supporting primitive microbial life. (Nature Astronomy, NatAstro)
As described by planetary geologist Aster Korvat, a co-author of the study, the idea is that the geology of Eridania could have sustained hydrothermal activity far longer than typical surface lakes, offering stable conditions for life to originate and persist. The research team notes that satellite spectroscopy of Eridania reveals rock compositions distinct from other areas of Mars. This chemical variance is interpreted as evidence that water gradually penetrated the planet’s crust, altering mineral assemblages over deep time, in a manner reminiscent of early Earth processes. (Nature Astronomy, NatAstro)
One prevailing hypothesis in planetary science is that life on Earth began near geothermal sources within porous rocks. The researchers point out that a parallel scenario could have occurred on Mars, where hydrothermal systems might have provided the necessary energy sources and nutrient chemistry for primitive organisms. The implications extend beyond Mars, inviting comparisons with how life might arise in geothermal environments elsewhere in the solar system. (Nature Astronomy, NatAstro)
Historically, researchers have identified several candidate sites across our solar system where life’s beginnings might be possible. Eridania joins a list of locations that attract attention for their combination of ancient water activity and heat sources, both of which are considered key ingredients for life’s emergence. The current findings highlight how Mars’ deep-time hydrology and volcanic activity could have offered sustained, life-friendly conditions long ago, when the planet was geologically more dynamic. (Nature Astronomy, NatAstro)
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