Scientists finally establish why there is no life on Mars

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “On Mars, water reacting with the freshly erupted lavas that form its basaltic crust resulted in a sponge-like effect,” said Dr Jon Wade, who led the study, published in the journal Nature. Donald Trump announces plan to send astronauts to the Moon and Mars “This water-rock reaction changed the rock mineralogy and caused the planetary surface to dry and become inhospitable to life,” he said. The scientists found that rocks on Mars were capable of holding about 25 per cent more water than those found on Earth, and that these rocks transport water into the planet’s interior. “But we also know there’s lots of water there now – in ice.” Professor McElwaine said that while Martian rocks could absorb water, without this phenomenon the planet would likely still be devoid of Earth-like oceans, owing to the different atmospheric conditions found there.