Are we
from Mars? Scientists have unveiled new evidence that seems to indicate
life started on the Red Planet. The findings could tell us a little bit
more about our origins and may just show that we all might be Martians.
So why would researchers believe that we might be from Mars?
Researchers have discovered that an oxidized mineral form of the element
molybdenum, which may have been crucial to the origin of life, could
only have been available on the surface of Mars and not Earth. In
addition, recent studies have shown that conditions suitable for the
beginnings of life may still exist on the Red Planet.
"It's only when molybdenum becomes highly oxidized that it is able to
influence how early life formed," said Steven Benner, one of the
researchers,
in a news release.
"This form of molybdenum couldn't have been available on Earth at the
time life first began, because three billion years ago the surface of
the Earth had very little oxygen, but Mars did. It's yet another piece
of evidence which makes it more likely life came to Earth on a Martian
meteorite, rather than starting on this planet."
The origin of life has remained hotly debated among scientists. More
and more theories have spawned concerning how the right conditions and
chemical compounds managed to form the spark of life. This latest
research, though, seems to indicate that the conditions were actually
never right for life on Earth.
In fact, there are two paradoxes which make it difficult for
scientists to understand how life could have started on Earth. The first
is named the "tar paradox." All living things are made of organic
matter, but if you add energy such as heat or light to organic molecules
and leave them to themselves, they don't create life. Instead, they
turn into something more like tar, oil or asphalt.
(Photo : NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
NASA's Mars
rover Curiosity has already discovered evidence of water on Mars,
including the presence of flowing rivers that may have coursed across
the red landscape. Now, scientists at Caltech have discovered evidence
for an ancient delta on the Red Planet where a river may have once
emptied into a vast ocean. NASA's Curiosity rover found evidence for an
ancient, flowing stream on Mars at a few sites, including the rock
outcrop pictured here, which the science team has named
"Certain elements seem able to control the propensity of organic
materials to turn into tar, particularly boron and molybdenum, so we
believe that minerals containing both were fundamental to life first
starting,"
said Benner.
"Analysis of a Martian meteorite recently showed that there was boron
on Mars; we now believe that the oxidized form of molybdenum was there
too."
The second paradox is that Earth would have been completely covered
by water. Not only would this have prevented sufficient concentrations
of boron from forming, but water is also corrosive to RNA. This was
probably the first genetic molecule to appear. While there was water on
Mars, though, it covered far smaller areas than on early Earth.
The findings reveal that we may actually come from Mars. That said,
more research needs to be conducted. If true, though, it could be that
we may actually have discovered life on Mars--right here on Earth.
The findings were presented at the Goldschmidt Conference on Aug. 29.
Source:
http://www.scienceworldreport.com/articles/9160/20130830/mars-origin-earths-life-begun-red-planet.htm
