Australian Fossils Hint At Where To Search For Life On Mars
If we find out that there was once life on mars, that will confirm life is probably all over the universe. It'll prove earth isn't unique.
The fossil finding predates the previous oldest evidence for life on
land by almost 600 million years, the scientists say.
This recent finding, Djokic says, is "a geological perspective saying actually, really early on we're already seeing life on land. So it just lends weight potentially to an argument suggesting that the origin of life on land might be something to consider."
It could also suggest where to look in the search for life on Mars.
NASA is currently considering where to land the rover on its 2020 Mars Exploration Mission, and one of the sites is a "hot spring-type setting," about the same age as the early Earth, Djokic says.
"If you're going to look for life on Mars, we know it was preserved on hot springs here on the ancient earth," she says. "So there's a good chance if it ever developed on Mars, then it would probably be preserved in hot springs there, too."