Scientists think there might be life hidden in underground caves on Mars
Scientists have theorised that if we are going to find life on Mars, it will be microbes and they will be living in caves below the surface. The Perseverance rover, NASA’s exploration robot on the Red Planet, is currently searching for signs of ancient life in the Jezero Crater. Scientists already know that there are so-called lava tubes on Mars, which some think could be large enough to shelter the first human astronauts from the cosmic radiation which is bombarding the planet. When these were formed, they thought conditions on Mars were more similar to those on Earth, with flowing water, an atmosphere and a warmer climate. One theory is that as conditions changed on the surface and Mars lost its magnetic field and atmosphere, life could have shifted underground. Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras from Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology calculated that UV radiation levels would be about 2 percent of the radiation levels found at the surface. Fortunately, we have lava tubes here on Earth too, which could tell us what life could look like in similar conditions elsewhere in the Solar System. Hawai’i’s Mauna Loa volcano lava tubes were recently explored by NASA. Within them, life is sheltered from conditions on the surface. On Earth, that is a bad thing: we have sunlight and oxygen. But on Mars, where conditions are much harsher, that is a big advantage. “The microbes we found in Hawaii could be similar to microbes that once lived on Mars,” researcher Chloe Fishman explained to NASA following a trip to collect samples in April, “or even microbes that live there today.” The team brought back samples from the cave so as to sequence the genomes of the microbes they found there. And there are already plans to explore lava tubes on the Moon, too. So maybe, just maybe, they will hold the secret to life on Mars. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-30 19:48
What to expect in Thursday’s Champions League draw
The draw for the group stage of the Champions League will take place at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on Thursday evening. Here the PA news agency explains how it will unfold. When is the draw? The draw is due to start at 5pm UK time on Thursday evening. How will it work? The 32 teams will be split into eight groups of four, with the four seeding pots not set to be confirmed until Thursday morning. The identity of the final qualifiers will not be known until Wednesday evening. Pot 1 will feature European champions Manchester City, Europa League winners Sevilla and six domestic champions. Pots two to four will be based on the UEFA club coefficient rankings. As usual, teams from the same country will be kept apart until at least the quarter-final stage. Pairings and any other restrictions will be announced ahead of the draw. What else do we need to know about the format? September 19 and 20 October 3 and 4 October 24 and 25 November 7 and 8 November 28 and 29 December 12 and 13 The teams play each other home and away between September and December as usual, with the top two progressing to the Champions League last 16. The teams finishing third enter the Europa League knockout round play-offs, where they will face the runners-up from the Europa League group stages for a place in the last 16 of that competition. What else should we expect on Thursday night? UEFA plans to announce the four winners of its 2022-23 awards – men’s player and coach, plus women’s player and coach – during the draw ceremony. There will be particular focus on the women’s awards amid the unfolding crisis in Spanish football – two of the country’s World Cup-winning team, Aitana Bonmati and Olga Carmona, are nominated for the player award while Jorge Vilda is nominated for the coach award. What else should we look out for this season? This season marks the final year of the group stage as we have come to know it. From next season the 32-team group stage will be replaced by a 36-team league phase, with each team playing eight matches on a seeded basis. It will be worth keeping an eye as the season progresses on the country coefficients, which are based on the collective performance of a country’s clubs in the three UEFA men’s club competitions. One team each from the two best-performing countries will secure additional places in the league phase, under changes agreed at UEFA Congress in Vienna last year. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Savannah Marshall would relish rematch with rival Claressa Shields in MMA cage England Women to get same match fees as men after Ashes summer boosts profile Daniel James injury blow for Wales ahead of Euro 2024 qualifier against Latvia
2023-08-30 19:28
Why did Lisa Horne dub Riah Nyree 'Hooters b***h'? Roxanne Kaiser backs 'The Ultimatum' Season 2 star
Riah admitted during the Netflix show's reunion that she found Lisa's 'Hooters b***h' comment quite 'disrespectful, rude, and tasteless'
2023-08-30 19:27
Randal Kolo Muani attempting to force PSG move by skipping Eintracht Frankfurt training
Eintracht Frankfurt have confirmed that Randal Kolo Muani has refused to train with the club in a bid to push through a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
2023-08-30 19:24
Edmunds: Best used electric vehicles under $25,000
Electric vehicle tax credits aren’t just for new EVs anymore
2023-08-30 19:23
Ali Bongo - Gabon's president arrested in army coup
As the military seizes power in Gabon, we examine the colourful, contentious life of its ousted president.
2023-08-30 19:22
Liverpool's dream end to the summer transfer window
Liverpool's perfect end to the 2023 summer transfer window, with a look at current targets and potential sales.
2023-08-30 19:21
As inflation soars, Argentines say they've seen this film before
By Lucila Sigal BUENOS AIRES Argentina is battling against triple digit inflation, its highest in over three decades,
2023-08-30 19:18
Roundup: Ana de Armas Fans Lose Lawsuit; Damar Hamlin Makes Bills Roster; Must-Watch Games For Week 1 of the NFL
Ana de Armas fans lose lawsuit against Universal, Damar Hamlin made the Bills roster, must-watch games for NFL Week 1 and more in the Roundup.
2023-08-30 19:16
Bob Dylan sent Post Malone unfinished lyrics to complete, but the end song likely won't be released
Bob Dylan's lyrics made superfan Post Malone burst into tears.
2023-08-30 19:15
Injury problems mount for Man United as Raphael Varane ruled out for 'a few weeks'
Manchester United’s injury problems are mounting
2023-08-30 19:00
J&J forecasts 12.5% growth in 2023 profit after Kenvue spinoff
Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday forecast 12.5% growth in its annual adjusted profit after completing the separation of
2023-08-30 18:57
