Queensland researchers may have played a part in one of the most important scientific discoveries in human history – evidence of life on another planet.

Studying samples collected in the Jezero Crater by NASA’s Mars rover Perserverance, a team of scientists found minuscule “leopard spots” on a rock, containing signatures of two iron-rich minerals: vivianite (hydrated iron phosphate) and greigite (iron sulfide).

On Earth, both minerals are known byproducts of microbial life.

QUT astrobiologist David Flannery was part of the team that discovered possible signs of life on Mars. Credit: QUT

“This very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars, which is incredibly exciting,” Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy said as he announced the discovery early Thursda

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