Could Mars, once a warm and wet world, still harbor life? A team led by Andrea Butturini believes so, focusing on Acidalia Planitia as a potential haven for microbial life, especially methanogens. Their study identifies a subsurface zone between 4.3 and 8.8 kilometers deep where conditions might support life. This area, shielded from Mars’ harsh surface, could retain ancient water and geothermal heat, key for life. Analyzing data from Mars missions, the researchers found Acidalia Planitia, a vast plain, might host methanogens. These microorganisms, which produce methane, can survive in extreme conditions without oxygen or sunlight, thriving on minimal nutrients. The area’s potential is due to high thorium concentrations generating heat and chemical energy, possibly mixed with subsurface water remnants. The study suggests this region “[is] a promising target area for future missions in the search for extant life in Mars’ subsurface.” But to reach these depths, advanced drilling technology is needed, far beyond what current or near-future rovers like the Rosalind Franklin can achieve, set to drill only seven feet. Despite the technological challenges, this research marks a significant step in the quest for extraterrestrial life, providing a focused area for future exploration. “The subsurface of the southern Acidalia Planitia is a putative target region for hosting cold-adapted Methanosarcinaceae-like and/or Methanomicrobiaceae-like methanogens,” the study authors wrote. If methanogens do exist there, it could explain the methane presence in Mars’ atmosphere, potentially confirming biological activity on Mars. However, the findings, available on arXiv, await peer review. The post Alien Life Could Persist on Mars in Subterranean Depths appeared first on Anomalien.com.