Underground life on Mars? Cosmic rays may make it doable

The analysis reveals that cosmic rays could not solely be innocent in sure environments however may really assist microscopic life survive. These findings problem the standard view that life can solely exist close to daylight or volcanic warmth. Published within the International Journal of Astrobiology, the examine is led by the Principal Investigator of the Space Exploration Laboratory at NYUAD’s Center for Astrophysics and Space Science (CASS), Dimitra Atri.

The workforce centered on what occurs when cosmic rays hit water or ice underground. The affect breaks water molecules aside and releases tiny particles referred to as electrons. Some micro organism on Earth can use these electrons for vitality, just like how crops use daylight. This course of is named radiolysis, and it may energy life even in darkish, chilly environments with no daylight.

Using pc simulations, the researchers studied how a lot vitality this course of may produce on Mars and on the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn. These moons, that are lined in thick layers of ice, are believed to have water hidden under their surfaces. The examine discovered that Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus had probably the most potential to help life on this means, adopted by Mars, after which Jupiter’s moon Europa.

“This discovery changes the way we think about where life might exist,” mentioned Atri. “Instead of looking only for warm planets with sunlight, we can now consider places that are cold and dark, as long as they have some water beneath the surface and are exposed to cosmic rays. Life might be able to survive in more places than we ever imagined.”

The examine introduces a brand new concept referred to as the Radiolytic Habitable Zone. Unlike the standard “Goldilocks Zone” — the world round a star the place a planet may have liquid water on its floor — this new zone focuses on locations the place water exists underground and will be energized by cosmic radiation. Since cosmic rays are discovered all through house, this might imply there are various extra locations within the universe the place life may exist.

The findings present new steerage for future house missions. Instead of solely in search of indicators of life on the floor, scientists may also discover underground environments on Mars and the icy moons, utilizing instruments that may detect chemical vitality created by cosmic radiation.

This analysis opens up thrilling new prospects within the seek for life past Earth and means that even the darkest, coldest locations within the photo voltaic system may have the appropriate situations for all times to outlive.