For decades, Mars has been portrayed as a barren, inhospitable world—yet it remains the most Earth-like planet in our solar system. New research, bolstered by the latest findings from NASA's Perseverance rover, is challenging that view, suggesting that the Red Planet may have once possessed conditions conducive to life.
This question—whether life ever existed on Mars—is among the most profound in astronomy. It took center stage at the COSPAR space research conference, currently underway in Florence, organized by Italy's National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF).
"The combination of several lines of evidence, such as the discovery by NASA's Perseverance rover of minerals that on Earth are produced by micro-organisms, and of complex organic matter, is increasing the likelihood that Mars may have been inhabited, at least in the past," said Teresa Fornaro, a researcher at the INAF Arcetri Observatory and professor of astrobiology in Florence, who collaborates on the Perseverance mission.
Fornaro explained that any life on Mars would most likely have been microbial, dwelling underground to shield itself from the intense radiation that bombards the planet's surface, deriving energy from the surrounding rocks. "So far, we've only gathered indirect evidence," she noted. "The organic matter we've found has a heavily altered structure, making it difficult to trace its origin. We'll only have a definitive answer once we can analyze the samples here on Earth."
Upcoming missions: ExoMars and Mars 2020
That is why the results from upcoming missions to Mars could prove pivotal. Chief among them, according to Fornaro, is ExoMars, led by the European Space Agency (ESA), with its Rosalind Franklin rover at the forefront. The launch is scheduled for 2028, with touchdown on the Martian surface expected in 2030.
The mission is already underway: the Trace Gas Orbiter, sent in 2016, has been studying the Martian atmosphere. The rover will follow in 2028, aiming to gather direct evidence to answer the central question—has life ever existed on Mars?
"Until now, rovers have only been able to explore the surface. Rosalind Franklin will be able to drill up to two metres into the ground, carrying the most advanced instruments ever sent to Mars," Fornaro highlighted, underscoring the mission's innovative scope.
Meanwhile, NASA's Perseverance rover, which began exploring the Martian surface in 2021 in search of traces of ancient organic life, remains active. The Mars 2020 mission was originally designed to last one Martian year—around 687 Earth days—but has been extended indefinitely. The rover continues to collect rock and regolith samples, driving major advances in space research.
A sample collected in the summer of 2024—the same one referenced by Fornaro—contained potential biological traces. Though these still require further analysis to confirm, NASA administrator Sean Duffy described the find as "the moment when we have come closer than ever to life on Mars."
As European researchers await the return of these samples, the continent's role in planetary exploration remains crucial. The ongoing debate over international research collaborations underscores the importance of maintaining strong partnerships in space science. Meanwhile, the growing number of missions to the Moon and Mars highlights the need for careful coordination in space traffic management.
The findings from Florence, combined with the upcoming ExoMars mission, signal a new era in the search for life beyond Earth. As Fornaro emphasized, the definitive answer may be closer than we think—once those precious samples reach laboratories on Earth.
