Scientists have devised new analytical tools to break down the enigmatic history of Mars’ atmosphere — and whether life was once possible there. It could help astrobiologists understand the alkalinity, pH and nitrogen content of ancient waters on Mars, and by extension, the carbon dioxide composition of the planet’s ancient atmosphere.

A paper detailing the work was published today in the journal Science Advances. It could help astrobiologists understand the alkalinity, pH and nitrogen content of ancient waters on Mars, and by extension, the carbon dioxide composition of the planet’s ancient atmosphere.

Mars of today is too cold to have liquid water on its surface, a requirement for hosting life as we know it.

«The question that drives our interests isn’t whether there’s life on present-day Mars,» said Tim Lyons, UCR distinguished professor of biogeochemistry. «We are driven instead by asking whether there was life on Mars billions of years ago, which seems significantly more likely.»

However, «Overwhelming evidence exists that Mars had liquid water oceans roughly 4 billion years ago,» Lyons noted.

The central question astrobiologists ask is how that was possible. The red planet is farther from the sun than Earth is, and billions of years ago the sun generated less heat than it does today.

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Materials provided by University of California — Riverside. Original written by Jules Bernstein. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.