LAS VEGAS — Mars may not have been an arid wasteland after all, according to a new study suggesting the Red Planet may have been far more habitable than previously thought. <br /> <br />Martian meteorites contain a specific mineral that has long led scientists to believe the planet had an ancient, dry environment. The mineral, called merrillite, contains no water or hydrogen — which led to the assumption that its Martian origins were likewise devoid of liquid. <br /> <br />But new research from a team at the University of Las Vegas-Nevada, and published in the journal Nature Communications, now suggests that merrillite was originally a hydrogen-containing mineral, and that the Mars may have had a more water-rich history. <br /> <br />When an asteroid or comet collides with the planet, the force of the collision propels Martian rocks containing whitlockite out into space. <br /> <br />The UNLV researchers theorized that when these rocks enter the Earth’s atmosphere as meteors, the shock, pressure, and high temperatures sustained during impact dehydrate the mineral, turning it into merrillite. <br /> <br />They tested the theory by blasting synthetic whitlockite with a gas-powered gun at speeds of more than 1,600 miles per hour, and huge amounts of pressure. <br /> <br />The shock experiments were sustained for only a fraction of a second, but already resulted in partial conversion, with 36% of the mineral transformed to merrillite. <br /> <br />The findings suggest Mars could have had a more abundant water supply. It also hints at the possibility of life on the Red Planet, as whitlockite is water-soluble and contains phosphorous — an essential element for life. <br /> <br />More detailed studies of Martian meteorites may provide more insight, but a Martian rock taken and transported to Earth will likely be needed for confirmation. <br /> <br />For now, scientists need to make do with thermal imaging and rock sample analyses from the rovers.
