Analogue Studies of Life on Mars

Noor Basmaji

250977504

February 12th, 2019

Earth Science 1086F

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Table of Contents
CONTENT
PAGE
1) INTRODUCTION 2
● Facts about Mars 2
○ Figure 1.0. The order of planets [4] 2
● The Significance of Mars 2
● History 3
○ Figure 1.1. Mariner 4 image of the surface of Mars [7] 3
● Statement of Aim 4
2) CAN MARS SUPPORT LIFE? 4
● Planetary Habitability 4
○ Figure 2.0. Ideal habitable planet[11] 4
● Evidence on Mars 4
○ Figure 2.1. Recurring slope lineae [13] 4
○ Figure 2.2. Gravity map of Mars [14] 5
● Earth vs. Mars 6
○ Table 1.0.Comparison between conditions of Early Earth and Mars 6
3) ANALOGUE STUDIES OF LIFE ON MARS 7
● Paper 1: Earth analogues for past and future life on Mars: isolation of perchlorate resistant
halophiles from Big Soda Lake. 7
○ Figure 3.0. Bacterial growth at at 1000x magnification[24]
7
● Paper 2: Habitability: Where to look for life? Halophilic habitats: Earth analogs to study
Mars habitability 8
4) CONCLUSION 8
5) REFERENCES 10
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INTRODUCTION
Have you ever wondered whether life existed beyond the planet of Earth? Life is the

condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for

growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death[1]. For years,

scientists have been trying to explore the solar system to look for evidence of life on other planets

as this topic seems to pique their interest, especially when it comes to the “Red planet”.

Facts about Mars

Mars, also known as the red planet, is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-

smallest planet in the Solar System after Mercury[2]. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a cold, thin

atmosphere composed of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and argon[2][3]. Due to the reddish iron oxide on

its surface, the planet has a reddish appearance that is distinctive among the astronomical bodies

visible to the naked eye[2].

The Significance of Mars

Mars seems to be of particular interest to

many scientists due to the various similarities with

the planet of Earth. Like Earth, Mars has seasons,

polar ice caps, volcanoes, canyons, and weather[3].

As seen in Figure 1.0, Mars has a very close

Figure 1.0. The order of planets [4]

proximity to Earth which explains the common
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characteristics between the two planets. This makes the red planet more habitable and capable of

supporting life. This idea will be discussed thoroughly later in the report.

Finding life on another planet abolished many scientific concerns and proves two beliefs.

First, that it would have broader cosmic implications and that Earth is not that special after all, it’s

not a rare fluke[5]. Second, it determines whether organic compounds can exist without the

existence of life[6].

History
In 1965, the spacecraft, Mariner 4 flew to Mars to detect any

signs of life. The image it came back with revealed no signs

of mountains or valleys, but instead it showed a cratered

surface [fig.1.1][8].

In 1976, two Viking Landers sailed to Mars to search for

evidence of life by detecting the presence of organic

Figure 1.1. Mariner 4 image of the surface of Mars
(carbon-based) molecules in the soil, but their investigation

was unsuccessful. In 2008, scientists discovered that the vikings burned the evidence during their

examination. The vikings were setting the soil samples on fire to release volatile organic

compounds. Unbeknownst to NASA, the samples contained a hyper flammable salt called

“perchlorate” which serves as a source of energy[9].

In 2013, Curiosity rover collected rock samples which were found at Yellowknife Bay,

researcher found water with neutral pH along with sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus,

and carbon[10][23].
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Statement of Aim
This report will explore whether the planet of Mars can sustain life and will demonstrate

how analogue studies and previous research can support the conclusions.

CAN MARS SUPPORT LIFE?

Planetary Habitability
Astrobiologists agreed that for a planet to be habitable, it must have the three following

requirements. The planet should be at a decent

distance away from a star, not too close that it’s in

the radiation zone, yet not too far that it’s freezing

cold. Its habitable distance [fig.2.0] is also essential

for the presence and maintenance of water on the

Figure 2.0. Ideal habitable planet[11]
surface of the planet[11]. The planet is also required to have a

molten core as a source of energy and to protect from radiations[11]. Further, it is a necessity that

the planet has a protective atmosphere to enclose the carbon dioxide and keep the temperature

warm[11].

Evidence on Mars
❖ Water: NASA discovered dark streaks, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL) that fade out

and disappear in cold seasons, but become darker when the temperature is above -10℉.

Additionally, Salts were located in all regions of the planet, but hydrated salts were only

observed when the streaks appear to be wider. Figure 2.1 was taken by NASA's Mars
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Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) which also

detected the presence of the salts on the slopes.

Hydrated perchlorate salts were also detected when

exploring the RSL. The researchers final findings

Figure 2.1. Recurring slope lineae [13] were that the relationship between the hydrated

salts and the dark streaks is the presence of water on Mars [12].

❖ Energy: NASA used data from Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, and the MRO which

orbited the planet to put together a Gravity map of Mars [fig.2.2]. The bumps on the

surface of Mars and it’s centre of mass succeeded at creating

deviations in the trajectory of the spacecraft. The map helped

the scientists analyze the tides in the mantle and outer crust of

the planet created by the gravitational force. The scientists

came to the realization that Mars’ has a molten core which Figure 2.2. Gravity map of Mars [14]

acts as a source of energy[14]. In addition, perchlorate was

found to be a relevant energy source that microbes could feed off of [15].

❖ Temperature: Mars’ atmosphere is extremely less dense than that of Earth, and is made up

of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, 1.6% argon and remaining gases[16]. NASA used the

Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) to determine that Mars’

atmosphere was lost to space. They discovered that the solar wind and radiation caused that

to occur. However, the dry riverbeds spotted prove that the atmosphere was once thick

enough and the temperature was sufficiently warm to maintain the presence of liquid water
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on the surface[17]. This is apparent evidence that temperature was one of the factors that

contributed to making Mars habitable.

Earth vs. Mars

Earth in the early days had favorable conditions that made life on its surface attainable.

Refer to table 1.0 to compare between conditions on the planet of Early Earth and Mars.

EARTH MARS

Thin atmosphere with limited oxygen, mainly Less dense atmosphere, composed of carbon
composed of hydrogen and helium[18] dioxide mostly[16]

Due to the volcanic eruptions and comets, Dark streaks prove evidence of the presence
Earth was rich in water vapor from which then of water[12]
turned into rain[19]

Earth had dissolved minerals that made the Martian soil is rich with minerals and salts[21]
oceans salty[19]

High percentage of carbon dioxide kept the The high level of carbon dioxide kept Mars
planet above freezing point[20] was warm in the past, but the escape of CO2
decreased the temperature greatly[17]

The planet of Earth has a molten core[20] Martian core is mostly molten[14]

Table 1.0. Comparison between conditions of Early Earth and Mars

Researchers came upon a desert along the western coast of South America called Chile’s

Atacama Desert. After extensive research, the desert seemed to have eerily similar conditions to

that on the planet of Mars. Atacama was one of the driest regions on Earth, yet scientists were still
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able to find microbial growth in the soil. Researchers also believe that there is frozen water in the

undergrounds of the desert, which is also similar to the streaks observed on Mars[22].

ANALOGUE STUDIES OF LIFE ON MARS

1) Paper: Earth analogues for past and future life on Mars: isolation of perchlorate resistant

halophiles from Big Soda Lake.

Researchers: Toshitaka Matsubara, Kosuke Fujishima, Chad W. Saltikov, Satoshi Nakamura and

Lynn J. Rothschild

High perchlorate levels on the surface of Mars makes the environment toxic for all

organisms[24]. This study questions whether microbial life exists and nurtures in the high

perchlorate percentage available in the Martian soil to understand the biochemistry that occurs on

Mars. In this investigation, the condition that made this experiment analogous to Mars was the

perchlorate salts. The scientists got four different perchlorate resistant, halophilic bacterial species

from Big Soda Lake (BSL) in Nevada, USA and exposed them to perchlorate salts to test how that

will affect their growth[24].

Results for this test showed that each one of the

species had a different perchlorate resistance which

helped it grow at a certain rate [fig.3.0]. Following this

investigation, scientists were certain that an increase in

perchlorate levels slowed down the growth of the

bacteria[24]. Although recognized earlier to be a source

Figure 3.0. Bacterial growth at 1000x magnification[24]
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of energy, the presence of perchlorates in Mars hinders the growth of organisms. Overall, this

demonstrates that perchlorate reduces the potential of life on the surface of the planet.

2) Paper: Habitability: Where to look for life? Halophilic habitats: Earth analogs to study

Mars habitability.

Researchers: F. Go´mez, J.A. Rodrı´guez-Manfredi, N. Rodrı´guez, M. Ferna´ndez-Sampedro, F.J.

Caballero-Castrejo, R. Amils.

Rio Tinto, 100 km river located at South West of Spain is reported to be a good Mars

analogue due to the similarities in the mineralogy of the system between the two. This study delves

into the endolithic micro niches in Rio Tinto salts which exist under extreme conditions. Perhaps

the existence of those micro niches on the planet of Mars increases the possibility of life[25].

Researchers used a spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, microscope, and more methods to

accurately analyze all different dimensions of the salts. It was observed that minerals precipitated

on salts that had a wet surface. Furthermore, the bio-mineralization process occurred differently.

As the dehydration level of the samples increased, the process increases. The bio-mineralization

process is significant evidence towards the habitability on the surface of Mars. Microbes on the

surface of Mars could have similar micro niche established in regions where wet salty deposits are

identified. This increases the chance of the presence of life on Mars[25].

CONCLUSION
It is pretty clear that whether life exists on Mars is still a matter of debate. It can be

concluded that Mars has liquid water due to the dark streaks observed, that it once had a thick
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atmosphere but it lost it to space, and that the molten core and perchlorate salts act as a source of

energy on the planet. The analogue studies of life on Mars summarize that microbial life exists on

the surface of Mars, but there are numerous factors that impact the speed of reproduction and

growth of those microorganisms.

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REFERENCES

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update/ (accessed February 9, 2019)

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[19] Early Earth: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sanjac-earthscience/chapter/early-earth/

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[21] The Martian soil: http://science.sciencemag.org/content/309/5736/888 (accessed February 9,

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