Hidden volcano discovered on Mars, potential haven for ancient life

Near a region known as Noctis Labyrinthus (Labyrinth of the Night) on Mars, scientists have found evidence of a huge, ancient volcano, reports Science Alert. The hidden volcano is buried under a layer of ice and, according to scientists, could contain traces of life.

A team led by Pascal Lee from the SETI Institute stumbled upon the hidden Martian volcano completely by chance. The scientists were studying a region covered by an ancient glacier when they realized that they were actually looking at a massive volcano. It should be noted that the observed area had been photographed many times in the past, but the volcano hidden within it had eroded, so astronomers were unaware of its existence for many years.

– In a sense, this large volcano has been a long-sought smoking gun – says Sourabh Shubham from SETI, who points out the size of the recent discovery and the fact that the volcano could have been active until recently. The object's peak reaches over 9,000 metres, while its base extends over a length of about 250 kilometres – we read. The discovered volcano is the seventh largest object found on Mars. Science Alert compares it to the highest dormant volcano on Earth (Ojos del Salado in the Central Andes), which is 6,893 metres tall.

The discovered Martian volcano is significant for science not only because it will allow the geology of the area to be examined, but also because it will enable research aimed at determining whether life could have arisen in this place. – This discovery is significant because it points to a new, exciting place to study the geological evolution of Mars over time, search for life, and in the future conduct research with robots and humans – we read in the observation report published on the SETI website.

The authors of the study are currently asking many questions about the volcano's history. They are interested in how long it was active or if it is still active. This is crucial in order to determine, whether life could have developed in its vicinity. Indeed, if the Martian volcano was active for a long period, the combination of heat with water (from the ice cover) could have created the ideal conditions for sustaining life.

Preliminary estimates assume that the volcano was active from ancient times until recently. This is due to its "gigantic size and complex history" – the research team believes. Therefore, further research of this recently discovered – though long-existing – area may allow a better understanding of Mars's history and the potential for life on it.