NASA study reveals possible biosignatures on Mars

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Washington: A recent analysis of the Sapphire Canyon mudstone core, collected by NASA’s Perseverance rover in July 2024, has revealed potential biosignatures that may point to signs of past life on Mars.

The study identified minerals and textures within the core that, on Earth, are commonly linked to microbial activity. However, researchers cautioned that non-biological chemical processes could also account for the signals.

“This finding by Perseverance is the closest we have ever come to discovering life on Mars. The identification of a potential biosignature on the Red Planet is a groundbreaking discovery, and one that will advance our understanding of Mars,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy.

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He added that NASA would continue its commitment to “Gold Standard Science” as part of the agency’s broader mission to eventually send humans to Mars.

The mudstone core was extracted from a rock called “Chevaya Falls” in Neretva Vallis—an ancient river channel that once fed into the Jezero Crater’s lake. Following the drilling, Perseverance sealed the core sample for potential return to Earth, where advanced laboratory testing could provide far deeper insights than the rover’s onboard instruments.