Stone-eating microorganisms grown on a piece of Martian land

Early Mars is considered an environment in which life could exist. In the geological history of the Red Planet

there was a time when she could be very similar toThe earth had life. Unlike current conditions on Mars, bodies of liquid water, higher temperatures, and higher atmospheric pressure may have existed in early history. Potential early life forms would have obtained energy from inorganic mineral sources and converted CO2 into biomass. Such living creatures are rock-eating microorganisms called chemolithotrophs.

Scientists have suggested that life forms likechemolithotrophs, existed there in the early years of the existence of the Red Planet. Traces of this ancient life (biosignatures) could be preserved within the Noach territories with a moisture-rich ancient geological history and mineral springs that could have been colonized by chemolithotrophs. In order to correctly assess them, related to the Martian, it is extremely important to take into account the chemolithotrophs in mineralogical environments corresponding to the Martian ones.

Researchers used a real NoachMartian breccia (rock formed from angular fragments, more than 1 cm in size and cemented) for growing the extreme thermoacidophilus Metallosphaera sedula, an ancient inhabitant of terrestrial thermal springs. This sample of brecciated regolith is the oldest known Martian crust from the ancient crystallization period (about 4.5 billion years).

“This breccia is one of the rarest substanceson Earth, formed by pieces of Martian crust (some of them are 4.42 ± 0.07 billion years old) and ejected millions of years ago from the surface of Mars. We had to take the bold approach of crushing a few grams of precious Martian rock to recreate the possible appearance of the earliest and simplest life form on Mars."

Tatiana Miloevich, author of the study

As a result, the researchers observed how darkthe fine-grained bulk of the breccia was biotransformed and used to create microbial constituents in the form of biomineral deposits. Using a comprehensive suite of advanced techniques, the researchers studied unique microbial interactions with genuine Martian Noach breccias down to nanoscale and atomic resolution. M. sedula, which lives on the material of the Martian crust, has produced distinct mineralogical and metabolic imprints that can make it possible to trace the alleged processes of colonization of the Martian crust.

Growing up on Martian crustal material,this microorganism has formed a strong mineral capsule consisting of complex phosphates of iron, manganese and aluminum. In addition to massive incrustation on the cell surface, we observed the intracellular formation of crystalline deposits of a very complex nature (Fe, Mn oxides, mixed Mn silicates). These are the distinctive unique features of the growth of breccia, which scientists have not previously observed when cultivating this microbe on earth's mineral springs and stony chondritic meteorite.

Observable multifaceted and complex patternsThe biomineralization of M. sedula, grown on breccia, revealed the rich, diverse mineralogy and multimetallic nature of this ancient Martian meteorite. M. sedula's unique cell biomineralization patterns highlight the importance of experiments on genuine Martian materials for astrobiological research on Mars.

See also:

The first accurate map of the world was created. What's wrong with everyone else?

Scientists have recorded for the first time how planets form around low-mass stars

An anti-aging medicine that removes senescent cells has been discovered