Mounds on Mars that could be from ancient hot springs are described in a new study, after setting the astrobiology community abuzz last spring.
Hydrothermal springs on Earth, like those in Yellowstone National Park, harbor what scientists figure are the closest relatives to the original organisms that lived on our planet. Finding these features on Mars (or any other planet) could have big implications for the question of extraterrestrial life.
Mars has many features that suggest the planet was once warmer and wetter. At the least, the ancient vents — if that’s what they are — would make great places to look for signs of past life.