NASA's new study explains why Mars, once home to water, became a cold, lifeless desert. Carbonate-rich rocks reveal key insights into Mars' interrupted carbon cycle.
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| Despite signs of water on Mars in its distant past, new findings show that disrupted carbon cycles and low volcanic activity led to the planet's barren, lifeless state. File Photo Courtesy: NASA |
Chicago, USA, July 7, 2025:
Mars has long intrigued scientists, especially with evidence suggesting that, at one point, the Red Planet had water and a more hospitable environment. Yet, the question remains: why did life not take hold? A new study based on data from NASA’s Curiosity rover sheds light on this mystery, offering a startling explanation.
The study, led by Edwin Kite from the University of Chicago, reveals the discovery of carbonate-rich rocks on Mars—similar to limestone on Earth. These rocks have the ability to absorb and store carbon dioxide, suggesting that the planet once had conditions favorable for life. However, the study also points out that these favorable conditions were only temporary.
"Some parts of Mars may have had conditions suitable for life, but that was an exception," said Kite. Despite the presence of nearly all the necessary elements for life, Mars’ most critical element—water—was only available for a limited period, making its survival unlikely in the long run.
Curiosity and the Perseverance rover, which began operations in 2021, have both identified carbonate rock formations near Mars' now-dried-up lakes. These findings support the hypothesis that Mars may have once had a carbon cycle much like Earth’s. On Earth, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through volcanic eruptions and then absorbed by limestone. But Mars has experienced much lower volcanic activity, which has led to the disruption of this vital carbon cycle.
As a result, Mars underwent a drastic climate shift, cooling down and eventually turning into the barren, lifeless desert we see today. New data indicates that Mars had water for a period billions of years ago, but the planet’s climate underwent extreme changes for over 100 million years, rendering it inhospitable for life.
While the evidence points to a once-thriving environment, scientists are still hopeful. "There may still be water deep beneath Mars’ surface, but we haven't found it yet," Kite added. If more carbonate-like rocks are discovered, they could offer further insights into the planet’s ancient environmental conditions and bring us closer to understanding why life never took root on Mars.