Since the beginning of space exploration, scientists have been on a search for alien life, and thanks to NASA’s Perseverance Rover, we might be one step closer to finding it.

In early September, scientists reported that rocks collected by Perserverence, a Mars rover, may contain chemical signatures of ancient microscopic life. The sample was collected from an arrow shaped rock called Cheyva Falls along an ancient riverbed in July of 2024 and has 3 distinct features that led scientists to believe in life.

  First off, there are long veins of calcium sulfate, a mineral deposited by flowing water, along the rocks. This adds to evidence that Mars once used to have water on its surface, making it hospitable to life. 

In addition, using an x-ray scanner, scientists discovered rings of iron and phosphate, which are often used in chemical reactions and could have provided life-sustaining energy to the possible microbes. 

And lastly, organic compounds have been found on the surface of the rock. Organic compounds don’t always come from non-biological processes, but oftentimes they are signs of life forms.

After a year of reviewing the rock, scientists assume that ancient-life is the only possible explanation, but until they can officially study the rock, they can’t make any confirmations. 

This leads to the next step: getting the sample back to earth. The rock is still on Mars, stuck with Perseverance. When the rover was launched, it had a prospective return date in the 2030s, but as NASA’s federal budget has decreased, the date has been pushed back into the 2040s. 

However, this might not be the only option. Leaders of NASA are looking for alternatives, and China is developing plans for a Mars Sample Return mission that could launch in 2028.

Whether the samples are retrieved in 2030 or 2045, the results will be the same, but depending on what scientists discover the world may not. Who knows, maybe Mars once had alien life!