Antarctica's Ruddy Blood Falls May Mean There's Hope for Life on Mars

Antarctica may not be as barren as we thought, which could mean there's hope for finding life on other, seemingly-inhospitable planets. Scientists have discovered a series of hidden, interconnected lakes that may sustain life and shed light on ancient climate change.

In this latest study, the researchers used a novel airborne electromagnetic mapping sensor system called SkyTEM. This allowed them to detect extensive salty groundwater networks in Antarctica. This new evidence suggests not only that there are underground lakes, but that the brine-saturated sediments may support subsurface microbial ecosystems.

The scientists also studied Taylor Glacier, which is known for its "Blood Falls." There, iron-rich brine from the subsurface is released at the front of the glacier; the falls harbor an active microbial community where organisms use iron and sulfur compounds for energy and growth.

"It may change the way people think about the coastal margins of Antarctica," said Jill Mikucki, one of the researchers, in a news release. "We know there is significant saturated sediment below the surface that is likely seeping into the ocean and affecting the productivity of things that feed ocean food webs. It lends to the understanding of the flow of nutrients and how that might affect ecosystem health."

The researchers believe that the subsurface, briny lakes may harbor a similar microbial community to those that are found in deep, cold groundwater. What's more interesting to note, though, is that these communities could shed some light on how microbes live in such extreme conditions, and may mean that similar communities could exist on other planets.

Already, researchers have discovered that Mars harbored quite a bit of water in its past. It's possible that subsurface microbial communities could still exist (or may have once existed) on the Red Planet.

The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.

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