Computer simulations have shown that Mars could destroy living microorganisms

Scientists from the Paris Institute of Biology held computer modeling of the surface of Mars and came to the conclusion that in ancient times, microbes on the planet could lead to a cooling and extinction of life. It is possible that living microorganisms released a significant amount of methane, which led to a cooling of the atmosphere.

As scientists have suggested, about 3.7 billion years ago, Mars had a warm and humid climate with temperature fluctuations from -10 ° C to + 20 ° C. The planet had rivers, lakes and oceans that could be inhabited by living microorganisms. However, the planet’s atmosphere was different from Earth’s and was saturated with carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which created a greenhouse effect. Due to the production of a large amount of methane by microbes, the atmosphere could cool down, which forced the microorganisms to go into the bowels of the planet to a depth of 1 km, where they died out.

Scientists have identified three zones on the planet where one could find confirmation of this theory: in the crater Lake and in two low-lying plains – Hellas and Isis. The Perseverance rover is currently taking soil samples from Lake Jezero Crater. The researchers also suggested that perhaps life still survived in the planet’s crust and learned how to get energy from other geological processes. Scientists plan to start searching for possible habitats for microorganisms in the future.

Evgeny Fedunenko