A study just published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters for the first time creates a model of the evolution of the Martian atmosphere, linking the high temperatures of Mars’ hot "infancy" to the creation primordial oceans and atmosphere.

Mars is in the Goldilocks habitable zone of the solar system, but has long been known to be too cold and arid for life. Some circumstantial evidence suggests that the planet may not have been in the past, but planetary evolution - which is full of luck - has squeezed it out.

In the new model, created by the SETI Institute (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute, funded primarily by NASA), the time period during which Mars created its original environment has been reproduced through The data was collected by NASA’s Curiosity rover, still exploring the red planet, as well as from Martian meteorites that fell to Earth.

Accordingly, the primordial atmosphere of Mars must have been about 1,000 times denser than it is today, consisting mainly of molecular hydrogen (H2) in the upper atmosphere and abundant water vapor in the lower layer.

"This finding is significant because H2 is a strong greenhouse gas. The dense atmosphere of H2 would create a powerful greenhouse effect that would allow warm or hot oceans to settle on the surface of Mars for millions of years. years, until H2 gradually disappears into space" - the authors wrote in the publication.

This was determined by analyzing the proportions of hydrogen isotopes in Martian meteorites as well as 3 billion-year-old clay samples that Curiosity collected.

What has just proven to be the perfect piece for the scenario of a primitive red planet with vast oceans, warm enough for life to be born thanks to the protection of "armor" H2.

"This is the first model to reproduce these data naturally, giving us confidence that the atmospheric evolution scenario we have described corresponds to primordial events on Mars" - SciTech Daily quoted researcher Kaveh Pahlevan from the SETI Institute.

The researchers discovered new material in the foreign journal WASP-39 b.

Unfortunately, H2 is easily lost into space, so after billions of years, this layer gradually thins, leading to the loss of water vapor, making the planet become a cold "dead desert". It is clear, however, that this planet was made to live on.

Evaluating the results from the model plus the conditions suitable for other life on this planet, the team of authors from the SETI Institute concluded: "Early Mars was a warm version of Titan (the moon Saturn). ) and is at least as promising as the origin of life as early Earth, if not more promising".