A new study suggests that robots currently exploring Mars may miss potential signs of life on the Red Planet. Twin Viking orbiters sent by NASA Anthem discovered liquid water on the surface of the Red Planet about half a century ago, about three to four billion years ago. Subsequent missions confirmed these findings and suggested that organisms may once have existed there and still exist, as there is life almost everywhere on Earth where there is water.

However, two NASA landers “Viking” In Martian soil, he did not find any conclusive naturally occurring organic chemicals, even at a one-billionth level. Even the newest, highly advanced instruments of later NASA rovers Curiosity And Patience they found only traces of simple organic molecules in ancient Martian lakes and river deltas. And these compounds are not reliable evidence of life; Scientists emphasize that they may have been produced by geological processes.

It is unknown whether the search is for the past or the present. life on mars failed because the Red Planet has always been barren, or the probes sent there are not sensitive enough to detect any life there. To help solve this mystery, scientists have now tested instruments and highly sensitive laboratory equipment that may have been or may have been sent to Mars.

Researchers analyzed samples from Red Stone, the remnants of a river delta in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world. Formed in very arid conditions about 100 to 160 million years ago, these sediments look a lot like Mars. lake cratercurrently researching Perseverance.

Redstone regularly experiences mist that provides water for the microbes living on the site. Modern laboratory methods used by scientists have revealed a mix of biochemicals derived from both extinct and living microorganisms. About half of the DNA sequences found in Red Stone come from the “dark microbiome,” that is, from microbes that researchers have yet to fully identify.

However, test versions of devices currently on or planned for Mars, including one that is 10 times more sensitive than the device aboard Curiosity, barely detected signs of organic life in the Red Rock samples.

“I would expect the test tools we’re trying to find evidence of life at Redstone, which we know is out there, to be better with tools you can find in any microbiology lab,” said Armando Azua-Bustos, lead author of the study. The Center for Astrobiology in Madrid told Space.com. – And they didn’t.

These findings show that Mars probes If microbial life actually existed there billions of years ago, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to detect the low organic matter types expected on the Red Planet today.

“We’re still learning to detect evidence of life on Mars,” Azua-Bustos said. Said. “There is a limit to the current nature of the instruments sent there. But it’s not because they’re poorly designed. We are still in the learning curve.”