Proof Of Alien Life? NASA Curiosity Rover Discovers Sulphur Crystals On Mars

A striking discovery by the NASA Curiosity rover was made a few months ago during its exploration across the surface of the Red Planet. This exploration through the Gale Crater led the rover to find sulphur crystals within a Mars rock formation, hence questioning the existence of life on the planet.

Does The NASA Curiosity Rover Discovery Of Sulphur Crystals On Mars Reflect Life On The Planet?

A few days ago, reports of the Curiosity rover’s discovery of the largest organic material on Mars made headlines across the internet. This long-chain alkane discovery in rock isn’t the first discovery for the rover, leading scientists to question the existence of life on the Red Planet.

This discovery, originally made back in 202,4 uncovered traces of sulphur crystals inside a rock formation on Mars that the rover came across. The rocks in question are in the Gale Crater on the Red Planet, leading to questions about the history of this crater.

After testing the traces within the rock formation, the Curiosity rover was able to identify a concentration of calcium sulphate and magnesium sulphate. These two minerals are often present in evaporative regions that were once home to a body of water.

This discovery along with the more recent long-chain alkane discovery are creating more concerns within the scientific world as to the existence of life on the Red Planet. Possibly in the past there existed a water body on Mars that eventually evaporated, leaving behind organic residues as proof of its existence.

Previous reports have also supported the existence of a body of water on the Red Planet. However, we are not to take these reports and findings as proof of life activities on Mars, but as connecting lines helping us better understand the Red Planet.

More Discoveries On Mars Call For Deep Research On the Red Planet

In under one year, the NASA Curiosity rover has been able to make intriguing discoveries, finding chemical materials on Mars that might reflect life’s existence on the planet. Scientists are still looking into both discoveries, hoping to learn how these materials were formed on the Red Planet.

The research on these findings will also focus on the possible existence of life on the Red Planet. It’ll also help us understand if the formation of these materials was a result of chemical activities and not biological activities.

Ashwin Vasavada, a NASA team member, likened the discovery of sulphur crystals on Mars to “finding an oasis in the desert.” He also stressed the need to explain the existence of this chemical material on the Red Planet.
First sulphur crystals, now long-chain alkanes, who knows what next the NASA Curiosity rover will find on Mars. These findings support the need for proper research activities on Mars to better understand its history.