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A potential presence of very salty water beneath the surface of Mars could mean that it contains enough oxygen to allow the microbes to breathe "even for simple animals like sponges," the researchers said. .
The study, published in NatureJones, is based on calculations and models. "This is a major revolution in our understanding of the possibility of a current or past life on Mars," said Vlada Stamnikovic, researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and senior author of l & # 39; study.
Due to the extreme scarcity of oxygen (about 1.45%) in the Martian atmosphere, scientists generally consider that the red planet is unable to house an environment containing enough of the same. oxygen to allow aerobic respiration.
This type of oxygen – based breathing is most prevalent on Earth through photosynthesis which allows the plant to release oxygen into the atmosphere. Another type of cellular respiration, called anaerobic respiration, that the planet uses on a planet without nuclei, lives in oxygen-free environments. The researchers were concentrating up to now on a possible aerobic respiration on Mars.
"But we now know that life on Mars, whether it is present or still exists, contains enough oxygen," said Vladada Stamniković. The team of researchers at Caltech University and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory were interested in the prospects for Martian spores and recent research. A solution with a high concentration of salt reduces the level of freezing water, so that it remains liquid even in very cold weather.
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The researchers began their work in stages and first calculated the amount of oxygen that can be degraded in salt water under pressure, heat and chemistry conditions of the Martian ridge.
The researchers then used a climate model that predicts pressure and heat in several regions of Mars to eliminate the ability of oxygen to decompose in saline water in different parts of the red planet. They have also studied climate change on Mars over the last 20 million years.
"We are determining the best places containing decomposed oxygen on this planet today," says the NASA laboratory researcher in Pasadena, Calif., And its evolution over time. "Some areas allow enough oxygen to allow simple animals such as sponges to breathe," he said.
The researchers pointed out that their discoveries "do not mean that life is based on Mars, but only that the ability to reside on this planet has changed because of the potential presence of decomposed oxygen". Researchers are waiting for their study to spark debate.
The team worked on models and calculations and now confirms or refutes their hypothesis by exploring Mars.
The tools should first be sent to Mars looking for concretes and water beneath the surface of the planet directly, according to Vlaada Stamniković, adding that the NASA laboratory was developing the equipment.
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