Life On Mars Perished Due To Climate Change Caused By Microbes, Study Claims

For long, scientists have suspected that Mars had life once upon a time. So, what went wrong? It appears that climate change might have had something to do with it.

Ancient microbial life on Mars might have perished after the planet's atmosphere was decimated. This climate change was a product of the microbial life form's activity, a new study claims.

Published in the journal Nature Astronomy last week, the study proposes a theory that hydrogen-consuming, methane-producing microbes lived on Mars about 3.7 billion years ago.

NASA

What led to climate change on Mars?

It appears that when these microbes were alive on Mars, the planet's atmosphere was similar to conditions that existed on ancient Earth at the same time. However, these microbes failed to create a long-term environment to support their survival - something that was achieved on our home planet Earth.

It seems like Martian microbes were doomed from the start, owing to the gas compositions and distance from the Sun. Earth is closer to Sun, allowing life to thrive. The same isn't true on Mars, where heat-trapping greenhouse gases worked to create hospitable temperatures.

NASA

Also read: Fresh Evidence Points To The Existence Of Liquid Water On Mars

But the microbes were slowly eating one of these greenhouse gases - essentially breaking into Mars' heat-trapping blanket.

Unsplash

Researchers believe that traces of methane in Mars' atmosphere might have emanated from alien burps, as NASA's Curiosity Rover posited. Methane is a byproduct of the microbes' consumption of hydrogen.

Also read: After 8 Glorious Years Around Mars, India's 'Mangalyaan' Has Run Out Of Fuel

The study's most important finding is perhaps that life cannot inherently sustain itself. Instead, it suggests that life can decimate its own chances of survival unknowingly. Humans have the benefit of knowledge, yet we do little to preserve our planet's future.

NASA

Do you think we're headed towards the same fate? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.

References

Pultarova, T. (2022, October 10). Ancient Mars microbes triggered climate change that made it hard for them to survive. Space.com. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from https://www.space.com/mars-microbes-triggered-climate-chance-extinction