Mars may have once hosted a vast ocean named Deuteronilus, with evidence suggesting its existence over 3 billion years ago. The ocean likely vanished around one billion years into the Red Planet's 4.5-billion-year history. China's Zhurong rover, which landed in Utopia Planitia in 2021, has revealed compelling evidence of this ancient ocean. Using ground-penetrating radar, the rover uncovered layered structures filled with foreshore deposits, typically formed by sediments from ocean tides and waves. These findings could significantly impact the ongoing search for life on Mars, as such an ocean might have harbored life under suitable conditions.
The discovery, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on February 25, highlights Mars' dynamic past, characterized by shifting shorelines. Cardenas, a researcher involved in the study, remarked on the evolving nature of Martian shorelines, stating:
"We're seeing that the shoreline of this body of water evolved over time," – Cardenas
The Zhurong rover's use of ground-penetrating radar allowed scientists to scan beneath Mars' surface, leading to this groundbreaking discovery. The layered formations found by the rover are indicative of ancient beaches and river deltas. As Cardenas noted:
"We're finding places on Mars that used to look like ancient beaches and ancient river deltas," – Benjamin Cardenas
This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting Mars was once a planet with dynamic environmental conditions that could have supported life. The presence of waves and a dynamic interface between air and water, highlighted by Cardenas' observations, further supports this notion:
"This stood out to us immediately because it suggests there were waves, which means there was a dynamic interface of air and water," – Cardenas
The implications of these findings extend beyond scientific curiosity. NASA is currently advancing efforts to retrieve samples from Mars, with the Perseverance rover actively exploring the Jezero crater since 2021. It might have already collected samples of Martian dust and potential evidence of ancient life. Initially, NASA planned to launch a retrieval mission in 2026. However, budget constraints have delayed this timeline to 2040. To expedite this mission, NASA is seeking proposals from private companies.
The discovery of Deuteronilus not only enhances our understanding of Mars' geological history but also fuels speculation about the possibility of past life forms on the planet. As scientists continue to explore these ancient environments, each finding brings humanity one step closer to answering profound questions about life beyond Earth.
