UAE scientists have made a big discovery that could help answer the question: Was there ever life on Mars?
Researchers at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) found new proof that water used to flow under the surface of Mars. Their study shows that ancient sand dunes in a place called Gale Crater slowly turned into rock after touching underground water billions of years ago.
This is important because where there’s water, there might have been life. Even after rivers and lakes disappeared from Mars, water underground may have stayed longer and kept tiny life forms, like bacteria, alive.
Dr. Dimitra Atri, who leads the research team, explained that these hidden water areas could have protected life. The team used information from NASA’s Curiosity rover and compared it with rocks found in the UAE deserts like Liwa, Al Wathba, and Hatta.
This discovery helps scientists better understand how Mars changed over time—and how it might have once been a place where life could grow.
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By Angel Tesorero. Original content published by Khaleej Times.