Martian volcanoes once thought to be extinct show possible signs of life

{"text":[[{"start":8.2,"text":"Massive Martian volcanoes that were once thought to be extinct have shown potential signs of activity, scientists have found, in a discovery that may aid the search for life on the red planet."}],[{"start":18.72,"text":"Mars has the biggest volcanoes in the solar system, with Olympus Mons soaring more than twice as high as Mount Everest and spanning more than 500km across."}],[{"start":28.48,"text":"Researchers detected toxic hydrogen chloride gas above new fissures in the Alba Mons region of the planet’s surface, possibly from magma underneath. The finding suggests the volcanoes may be active and raises new possibilities for the presence of living things."}],[{"start":42.88,"text":"“Looking for Martian life in the seeping fissures of the Alba Mons region would make a lot of sense,” said Daniel Mège, one of the researchers and a professor at the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences. “They could contain the ingredients and energy needed for micro-organisms to develop.”"}],[{"start":59.56,"text":"The new findings come from a joint project between the European Space Agency and Russian counterpart Roscosmos. Their ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter satellite detected unusual spikes in hydrogen chloride levels on the flanks of the vast Alba Mons volcano, which is said to resemble a shield lying curved side up on the ground."}],[{"start":78.44,"text":"The scientists argue the gas could come from hot magma beneath the planet’s surface. Hydrogen chloride is often found in such conditions on Earth."}],[{"start":85.9,"text":"The evidence adds to other signs, such as earthquakes, pointing to possible Martian volcanic movement. Imagery has suggested that some volcanoes have been active during the last few million years, although no new eruptions or lava flows have been seen."}],[{"start":99.7,"text":"The findings may pose only limited problems for the establishment of a human presence on Mars — an animating if distant and expensive ambition of some space agencies and billionaires, notably Elon Musk. Any potential dangers would be “localised”, Mège said, comparing the possibility to some eruptions in Iceland, where “tourists can enjoy the scene from not very far away”."}],[{"start":120.04,"text":"“We have only hints of gas escaping the surface, not lava,” he added of the new Mars findings."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":124.16,"text":"The observations add to tantalising data on prospects for life on Mars, including evidence from Nasa’s Perseverance rover of potential ancient microbial activity. Past higher concentrations of hydrogen chloride gas may have contributed to a warmer environment in the past, with plentiful liquid surface water and amenable to life, scientists say."}],[{"start":146.12,"text":"Last month, a Japan-led expedition launched with the aim of reaching the Martian moon of Phobos to gather data including on the prospects for life. A European rover is due to launch from Earth in 2028 to probe the Martian surface."}],[{"start":160.8,"text":"“The most likely time for life on Mars was 3.8bn to 4bn years ago, when it had a much more habitable environment than now, and is the same time that life was starting on Earth,” said Andrew Coates, a professor in the department of space and climate physics at UCL. “Future missions will search for signs of past life on Mars — but if there is present life they may find it, too.”"}],[{"start":188.28,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1793858852_9790.mp3"}