NASA has announced what it describes as the most compelling evidence of possible past microbial life on Mars. The breakthrough comes from a rock sample collected by the Perseverance Rover in July 2024.
The sample, named Sapphire Canyon, was taken from Neretva Vallis near Jezero Crater, an area believed to have once held a river system. Scientists say the rock contains organic signatures that cannot be explained without considering biological activity.
At a press conference, Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said the findings had been reviewed by the scientific community for a year. Unlike past claims, researchers have struggled to find a non-biological explanation.
Signs inside the Martian rock
The rock shows two key features — small dark “poppy seeds” and larger “leopard spots.” Using Perseverance’s PIXL instrument, scientists detected signals pointing to organic carbon. Joel Hurowitz of Stony Brook University explained that minerals like vivianite and greigite often form in environments shaped by microbial activity. While geology could offer some answers, none fit neatly.
Why the discovery matters
Nicola Fox, head of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, called the find “the closest we’ve come to discovering ancient life on Mars.” She stressed, however, that this is not living life but rather a leftover sign — similar to fossilized waste left by microbes billions of years ago.
Researchers emphasized that the results are exciting but not final proof. Returning the samples to Earth is essential to confirm the discovery.
The Mars Sample Return challenge
NASA originally planned to bring the samples back through the Mars Sample Return mission, but the project now faces budget and technical delays. Officials are considering a scaled-back version to speed up the process. Meanwhile, China aims to return its own Mars samples by 2031, potentially ahead of NASA’s timeline.
Despite these challenges, Duffy said the U.S. remains determined to lead in space exploration. “We lead and we’re going to continue to lead,” he stated.
The discovery shows how close science may be to solving one of humanity’s biggest questions: Was there ever life on Mars?
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