New Meteorite Hints that Life on Mars is More Likely Than Previously Thought (VIDEO)

Whether or not Mars ever possessed or possesses life is still under debate. Now, a new meteorite from the Red Planet may provide some answers. It seems to indicate that Martian life is far more probable than previously thought.

"So far, there is no other theory that we find more compelling," said Philippe Gillet, director of EPFL's Earth and Planetary Sciencies Laboratory, in a news release.

The meteorite itself was ejected from Mars after an asteroid crashed on its surface. Named Tissint, the meteorite fell on the Moroccan desert on July 18, 2011. This particular piece of Mars' surface possess small fissures filled with carbon-containing matter. And while tests have already shown that this carbon is organic in nature, scientists still aren't sure where the carbon came from.

The scientists performed chemical, microscopic and isotope analysis of the carbon material. This revealed several possible explanations of the carbon's origin, though interestingly the tests established characteristics that excluded a terrestrial origin. That is, the carbon did not come from Earth. In fact, the tests indicate that the carbon content was deposited in Tissint's fissures before it left Mars.

So how did the carbon get there? One belief is that the carbon traces originated through the high-temperature crystallization of magma. Another explanation is that liquids containing organic compounds of biological origin infiltrated Tissint's "mother" rock at low temperatures near the Martian surface.

That said, the organic matter could have been brought to Mars when primitive meteorites called carbonated chondrites fell to the planet's surface. However, this scenario is somewhat unlikely because these chondrites contain very low concentrations of organic matter.

"Insisting on certainty is unwise, particularly on such a sensitive topic," said Gillet. "I'm completely open to the possibility that other studies might contradict our findings. However, our conclusions are such that they will rekindle the debate as to the possible existence of biological activity on Mars-at least in the past."

Want to learn more? Check out the video below, courtesy of YouTube.

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