The robot car arrived on Mars in 2021. It landed on a plain in the Utopia region in the north of the red planet, where it has since been driving around collecting samples and data.
On Thursday, Chinese space authorities provided information on the latest discovery from the expedition. By combining analyzes from the robot car and satellite images, they have found the remains of what was once a coastline.
The Chinese scientists believe that this very primeval sea was created as a result of a flood nearly 3.7 billion years ago. Then the sea froze, which meant that the coastline created an imprint on the landscape before the sea disappeared nearly 3.4 billion years ago.
However, it is only when the robot car’s collected samples of Martian rocks are one day transported back to Earth that these theories can be established with certainty, the researchers emphasize.
This could be the key to solving a big mystery: finding out whether Earth is the only planet in the solar system that can host life, says researcher Benjamin Cardenas at Pennsylvania State University.
– Most scientists believe that life on earth either originated in the sea, where hot gases and minerals rose from the seabed, or at the intersection between water and air in small tidal basins, says Cardenas.
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Benjamin Cardenas rate my Professor
**Interview with Dr. Benjamin Cardenas, Researcher at Pennsylvania State University**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Dr. Cardenas. The recent discovery regarding the remains of an ancient coastline on Mars is fascinating. How significant do you believe this find is in relation to our understanding of the potential for life beyond Earth?
**Dr. Cardenas:** Thank you for having me. This discovery is pivotal. It suggests that Mars once had conditions similar to early Earth, which could potentially support life. If we can confirm that life existed there, it would change everything we know about the evolution of life in the universe.
**Interviewer:** There seems to be a belief among scientists that life on Earth originated either in the sea or at tidal basins. How do you think the discovery on Mars aligns with these theories?
**Dr. Cardenas:** It certainly supports the notion that life could emerge in aquatic environments. The findings hint at a time when water existed on Mars, potentially leading to similar biological processes as those on Earth. However, the actual confirmation will depend on the samples returned to Earth for analysis.
**Interviewer:** That brings up an intriguing point. If we do eventually discover life forms on Mars, even if they’re primitive, what implications would that have for the debate about whether Earth is unique in hosting life?
**Dr. Cardenas:** It would fundamentally challenge the view that Earth is unique. The discovery of life on Mars could suggest that life might be more common in the universe than previously thought. This could lead to further explorations and investigations of other celestial bodies with similar conditions.
**Interviewer:** Given this potential discovery, what do you think readers should consider regarding the implications for humanity and our perspective on life in the cosmos?
**Dr. Cardenas:** I believe it’s essential for us to engage in a broader conversation about our place in the universe. If life can arise in multiple locations, it might change our attitudes toward the environment, our approach to space exploration, and even our philosophical views on life itself.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Cardenas. As we ponder this, what do you think, readers? Could the possibility of life on Mars redefine our understanding of life’s uniqueness to Earth? Let’s hear your thoughts!
