Scientists from the Planetary Science Institute (PSI) announced the discovery of scientific evidence of the existence of glacier-like structures on the planet Mercury, which is the closest to the sun and the smallest in the solar system.
According to the institute’s scientists, the more volatile conditions in the inner solar system may sometimes mirror conditions found on Earth, where microbial life thrives, indicating the possibility that the glaciers were formed from salt.
Scientists confirm that these salty glaciers may provide favorable conditions for some types of bacteria to thrive in harsh conditions similar to those we see on Earth.
“Certain salt compounds on Earth create habitable environments even in some of the extreme environments in which they exist, such as the arid Atacama Desert in Chile,” Alexis Rodriguez, the study’s lead author, said in a statement. “This leads us to think about the possibility of the existence of regions beneath the surface of Mercury.” “It may be more livable than on its harsh surface.”
He pointed out that this pioneering discovery of glaciers on Mercury expands our understanding of the environmental parameters that can support life, adding a vital dimension to our exploration of astrobiology that is also related to the potential habitability of Mercury-like exoplanets.
