A Meteor in the Sahara Desert Sheds Light on Life on Mars

Whether there is life on the surface of Mars is still a matter of debate. Astronomers continue to make new discoveries about Mars every day. Recently, a study was published in which we obtained information about the past of Mars. With the published research, traces of water on the surface of Mars were examined.

Research on Mars continues not only on its surface, but also on Earth. Finally, the crater lake inside the Poas volcano in Costa Rica was included in Mars surveys. At the same time, meteorites falling to Earth provide us with information from other planets on many issues.

A meteor from Mars offers key information about life on the planet

Australian scientists shared the findings of the 320 grams NWA 7034 meteorite found in the Sahara Desert in 2011. It has been announced that the meteorite, which is also called ‘black beauty’ and determined to be 2.1 billion years old, is a stone consisting of broken rock and many minerals, mostly basalt, which solidifies over time and becomes a rock.

In addition, researchers who discovered very old and small zircon particles in the meteor think that this situation was caused by the effect of a large collision. The zircon in the meteor is evidence of events that took place on the surface of Mars 4 billion years ago.

The researchers say that major collisions can destroy living conditions as well as create new living conditions. It is thought that the discovered zircon grains may change the timeline of the habitability of Mars. According to the data obtained from the studies, a situation like the extinction of the dinosaurs as a result of the asteroid hitting the Earth may have occurred on Mars billions of years ago.

According to the statements made by the research team, the data obtained indicate that the ‘habitable range’ on the Red Planet may be later than previously thought. With the effect of these collisions, which are thought to have taken place approximately 4.2 billion years ago, the mentioned habitable gap may have been 3.7 billion – 3.9 billion years ago; It is also stated that this corresponds to the time period when liquid water is thought to exist on the planet’s surface.