On September 14th, researchers revealed that they found a gas called “phosphine” within the clouds of Mars, suggesting the potential existence of microorganisms on the planet and hinting at the possibility of life beyond Earth, according to Reuters.
Although no actual life forms have been detected, researchers note that on Earth, phosphine is produced by bacteria thriving in oxygen-depleted environments. It is worth noting that Mars has surface temperatures that can reach up to approximately 464 degrees Celsius, which is too hot to sustain life.
Scientists have reported the detection of phosphine in the atmosphere of Venus – Image: SETI.ORG.
An international team of scientists made the first discovery of phosphine molecules on Mars using the James Clerk Maxwell telescope in Hawaii and confirmed it using the advanced Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) telescope in Chile.
“I’m really amazed,” said Jane Greaves, an astronomer from Cardiff University in Wales (United Kingdom) and the lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
The existence of extraterrestrial life has long been one of the fundamental questions in science. Scientists have used telescopes and various tools to search for “biosignatures” – indirect signs of life – on other planets within our solar system and beyond.
“With what we currently know about Mars, the most plausible explanation for phosphine seems to be life,” pointed out Clara Sousa-Silva, an expert from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a co-author of the study.
This breakthrough has received praise from Jim Bridenstine, the head of NASA. He stated, “Life on Mars? The discovery of phosphine, a byproduct of anaerobic biology, is the most significant development to date in the search for extraterrestrial life.” He shared this sentiment on Twitter.