What Can Survive on Mars?

There’s always been a debate about what form of life could have survived on Mars. Now scientists at the University of Arkansas have taken up a study that could reveal just what could actually survive those extreme conditions associated with the red planet.

The front runner for life on Mars is an ancient organism called methanogen. The simple anaerobic, non photosynthetic organisms are said to produce methane gas. The presence of martian methane in the atmosphere has already been confirmed, leading to support the theory that this particular organism may already be present on the planet. Specially since most of the methane found on Earth is of bionic origin.

They could be on the surface of the planet, but would survive under deep layers of soil as well. This means it could be a while before any of the rovers on Mars are actually able to get a sample of soil containing methanogens.

The confirmation will be some time in coming. However if it does, it will mean a lot for the possibility of eventually colonizing Mars with humans. Needless to say this is one science project that many scientists and researchers would be over the top to see to a happy conclusion.