"We have improved our understanding of the geological context of the discovery since [last year], and in the paper, we explore abiotic and biological pathways to the formation of the features that we observe,"
"My hope is that this discovery motivates a whole bunch of new research in laboratory and analog field settings on Earth to try to understand what conditions might give rise to the textures and mineral assemblages we've observed. This type of follow on work is exactly what is needed to explore the various biological and abiotic pathways to the formation of the features that we are calling potential biosignatures."
Perseverance sampled an arrow-shaped rock in Jezero Crater that contains chemical signatures, textures, and mineral assemblages resembling those produced by microbial activity in watery environments. Detailed analyses and peer review of the rover data have refined the geological context and identified features consistent with a water-based biosignature. Multiple abiotic pathways can reproduce similar textures and mineral patterns, leaving non-biological explanations viable. Follow-on laboratory experiments and Earth analog field studies are needed to evaluate formation mechanisms. Return of Martian samples for comprehensive Earth-based analyses could be required to establish a definitive biological origin.
Read at Ars Technica
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