Maybe, but AFAIK, most of those who work in this field (astro-biologists?) were convinced many years ago that there was standing/flowing water on Mars way back when. Many will be not at all surprised if fossils of simple organisms - "bacteria" - are found. Of course, in a formal sense, you can't put in higher numbers until such fossils have been found ...Janitor said:Are people cranking up any of the values that go into Drake's equation as a result of the finding that there was an era of standing water on Mars?
NASA scientists used data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to detect hydrated salts on slopes of Martian slopes, indicating the presence of briny water.
The presence of briny water on ancient Mars suggests that the planet may have once been habitable for microorganisms. This discovery opens up new possibilities for the search for past or present life on Mars.
Briny water is significant because it contains dissolved salts that can lower the freezing point of water, making it more likely for liquid water to exist on the surface of Mars. Liquid water is essential for life as we know it.
This discovery may change the focus of future Mars missions to prioritize areas that have a higher chance of containing briny water. It also opens up the possibility of studying the briny water and its potential for supporting life.
Discoveries like this one on Mars add to our understanding of the potential for life on other planets in our solar system and beyond. It also highlights the importance of continued exploration and research in our search for extraterrestrial life.