Photosynthesis, is a process plants undergo to turn light into chemical energy and is how oxygen is pumped into the atmosphere.This raises the question as to whether the hematite on the rocks of Mars could be fostering bacterial life underneath it. While scientists are now trying to prove whether or not this can happen on a planet with no atmosphere, Dr Bishop has said, “it’s kind of a stretch” to imagine there is life on Mars now, but she believes there was in the past. Bishop added that other researchers once believed that life is able to sustain itself on Mars in the watery environments that exist there.
Even more relevant to the topic of hematite rocks and water is an experience Bishop had in the Mojave Desert when she was studying rocks. Bishop found that rocks with a hematite coating had carbonates shielded beneath. In an interview, Bishop said, “They were all hiding under this red mineral at the top, called hematite,”.
Nasa’ has also had all hands on deck of the life on Mars mystery since 2012, and have also found clues of life on the red planet. In December the Mars rover, which was exploring the Gale Crater discovered ‘burps’ of methane, which scientists at NASA said could indicate “life or evidence of ancient methane trapped which could show ancient life”.