A new study published in Nature Communications found chemical evidence that Mars likely used to have a semiarid — dry but not quite desert — climate, which could have sustained life.
The research,Fox Newsreports, found evidence of water that once filled sections of the Gale Crater had important minerals like salt, fairly neutral pH levels and a ratio of hydrogen and oxygen, which revealed the planet’s former semiarid climate.
The most important part of these findings is that they affirm the belief that the water once on Mars would likely have been capable of supporting life, according to Fox News.
This new research, according to Fox News, was made possible by the work of the Curiosity rover, which will mark seven years exploring Mars’ Gale Crater in August.
After NASA’s Opportunity rover ended its 15-year mission last year, the Curiosity rover has continued to provide invaluable information about Mars and the planet’s possible past ability to support life.
In October, the Curiosity rover found data that the Gale Crater on Mars likely contained an oasis 3 billion years ago, NASA reports.
The research showed that the Gale Crater likely contained many small, briny lakes at one point in time, which have now dried into a freezing and dry desert.