Scientists find the best evidence yet of potentially habitable volcanic vents on Mars
Magma and a possible environment for ancient life might be present on Mars in the region of a large volcano on the Red Planet.
Scientists have discovered compelling evidence of potentially habitable volcanic vents on Mars, according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances. The noxious gas hydrogen chloride, detected seeping through cracks on the Martian surface, hints at the possibility of magma flowing beneath the planet's surface and an environment similar to Earth's habitable zones.
The findings come from Europe's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter spacecraft, which spotted the gas emissions in the region of Alba Mons, the largest volcano on Mars. While more research is needed to confirm the emissions, the study's authors suggest that Alba Mons may host an environment conducive to life, akin to Earth's hydrothermal vents.
The discovery is based on a combination of atmospheric observations and ground-based seismic measurements from NASA's InSight lander, providing complementary evidence of magma activity on Mars.
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