Move into the picture
▲ Canyon in the ‘Terra Sirenum’ region of Mars
Research results have shown that it is possible to create a habitat environment in which photosynthetic life forms, such as microorganisms, can live in the dusty ice in the canyon areas of the mid-latitude region of Mars.
Dr. Aditya Cooler’s team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) conducted a modeling study today (18th) in the scientific journal Communications Earth & Environment, which revealed that there was dusty ice on the surface of Mars. They said they had concluded that they could provide conditions. for photosynthetic organisms to survive.
The research team said that this result indicates that ice deposits in the mid-latitude region of Mars could be a prime candidate for the study of life on Mars in the future.
Since the possibility of water and ice on Mars has been confirmed, much interest has been focused on the existence of life, however, the sun’s ultraviolet rays are so strong on the surface of Mars that it is considered impossible great impossibility of life. .
There is no ozone shield on Mars, so ultraviolet rays reach 30% more than on Earth.
However, scientists believe that if Mars had a thick enough ice cover, it could absorb ultraviolet rays, protect life below the surface, and create conditions that would allow life to receive enough light for photosynthesis.
In this study, the research team developed a UV transmittance model for ice based on the dust content and structure of ice observed on Mars to determine whether the exposed ice in the mid-latitudes could support life. the latitude of Mars.
As a result, ice with too much dust blocks a lot of sunlight, making it impossible for life forms below to photosynthesize, but in ice that contains 0.01 to 0.1% of dust, life zones can exist at a depth of 5 to 38 cm. It happened.
In addition, it has been studied that in clean ice with less dust, a larger living space can be created at a depth of 2.15 to 3.10 m.
The research team also said that dust particles in the ice could melt locally at a depth of up to 1.5 meters, providing the water necessary for photosynthetic life.
The temperature at the polar regions of Mars is too low for this phenomenon to occur, but in the mid-latitude region of 30 to 50 degrees, dust grains can absorb energy and melt ice.
The research team said this result shows that there could theoretically be a habitable zone in the mid-latitude ice of Mars, but it does not mean that photosynthetic life exists or has ever existed. Mars.
However, if there could be some liquid water at shallow depths within the ice, as shown in this result, the mid-latitude ice exposure zones may be the most accessible places for life. a possible discovery on Mars.
(Photo = provided by NASA / JPL-Caltech / University of Arizona, Yonhap News)
