Improving the chance of finding fossil microbes on Mars

Abstract

All life on Earth requires the presence of liquid water. Evidence that Mars once had liquid water for extended periods of time is growing and is keeping alive the possibility that life may once have started on Mars. We are using infrared spectroscopy of Mars to search for minerals indicative of the past presence of liquid water. If we can locate regions containing such minerals, these would be promising locations to search for fossil microbes.