NASA announces discovery of evidence indicating ‘highly probable existence of life on Mars’
//Summary - Level-B2//
NASA announced that minerals discovered by the Perseverance rover in 2024 show strong evidence of possible past life on Mars. The rover found unique structures in mudstone at Jezero Crater containing ferric phosphate and iron sulphide, which on Earth are often linked to microorganisms. These minerals formed in low temperatures, making non-biological explanations unlikely. Because the rocks also contain organic carbon, phosphorus, and sulphur, scientists believe they could have supported microbial life. The findings, published in Nature in September 2025, are considered close to Level 4 on the Confidence in Life Detection scale but need further confirmation.
1)
Regarding the minerals discovered by NASA's Perseverance rover in 2024 that suggested the possibility of past life, NASA announced it has assessed them as ‘potential biosignatures’ – indications that could be traces of past life.
A paper summarising the analysis results was published in the scientific journal Nature on 10 September 2025.
2)
The following article provides a clear explanation of the minerals discovered by Perseverance in 2024:
NASA's Mars rover Perseverance discovers a rock suggesting “traces of life”
https://gigazine.net/news/20240802-nasa-perseverance-mars-rock-indications-life/
3)
This paper reveals the discovery of specific mineral aggregates within organic-carbon-bearing mudstone, which is thought to have formed via redox reactions.
Perseverance conducted its investigation at the Bright Angel formation within the Neretva Valley, located at the western edge of Jezero Crater. Here, the rover's onboard analytical instruments detected mudstone rich in iron, phosphorus, and sulphur.
4)
Of particular significance are two distinctive structures found within this mudstone. One is a cluster named “poppy seeds”, measuring less than 1mm in diameter, and the other is a reaction surface called “leopard spots”, several millimetres in diameter.
Detailed analysis revealed these structures are rich in the minerals ferric phosphate and iron sulphide.
5)
On Earth, many microorganisms are known to utilise iron oxide (rust) or sulphates instead of oxygen to obtain energy. Iron-utilising microorganisms can produce ferric phosphate as a by-product, while sulphate-respiring microorganisms can produce iron sulphide.
6)
The newly discovered minerals were found within mudstone rich in organic carbon, phosphorus, and sulphur. These elements could serve as ideal energy sources for microorganisms.
Furthermore, the distribution and morphology of the minerals suggest they were formed in situ through chemical reactions utilising surrounding organic matter, consistent with the metabolic activities of microorganisms obtaining energy.
7)
Furthermore, the environment in which these reactions occurred provides strong support for the hypothesis of traces of life. Analysis of the rock revealed no evidence that the location where the minerals were found had been subjected to high temperatures.
If the reaction producing the iron sulphide had been abiotic, it would have required temperatures of 150°C to 200°C. NASA states that explaining the formation of these minerals in a low-temperature environment solely through abiotic processes is difficult.
8)
Dr Katie Stack Morgan, a researcher at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), commented: ‘Astrobiological claims, particularly those related to the potential discovery of past extraterrestrial life, require extraordinary evidence.
Publishing such a significant discovery of potential life indicators on Mars in a peer-reviewed paper is a crucial step in the scientific process to ensure the rigour, validity, and significance of our results.’
9)
The newly discovered mineral can be considered close to Level 4 on the Confidence in Life Detection (CoLD) scale, which assesses scientific credibility.
This level indicates that ‘all plausible known non-biological causes capable of generating the signal in that environment are implausible.’
However, non-biological causes have not been entirely ruled out, so future research will aim to solidify the confidence level at Level 4 on the CoLD scale.
NASA announces discovery of evidence indicating ‘highly probable existence of life on Mars’
https://gigazine.net/news/20250911-nasa-mars-potential-biosignature/
