KarunaNews Story

A sample drilled from a rock in a river valley on Mars by the Perseverance rover that may contain potential biosignatures of long ago microbial life is the closest we have ever come to discovering life on Mars, says acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy. The rock was streaked in red, green, purple, and blue, flecked with dots and decorated with dull yellow leopard spots. The rover’s instruments detected two iron-rich minerals which can be produced by microbial life.“Getting such a significant finding as a potential biosignature on Mars into a peer-reviewed publication is a crucial step in the scientific process because it ensures the rigor, validity, and significance of our results,” said Katie Stack Morgan, Perseverance’s project scientist. But confirming the finding requires additional research in laboratory settings on Earth, so bringing samples of the rock home is on NASA’s exploratory agenda.