NASA study finds ancient life could survive 50 million years in Martian ice
Science Daily
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
NASA researchers have discovered that organic molecules, such as amino acids from E. coli bacteria, can survive up to 50 million years in pure Martian ice, shielded from cosmic radiation. This groundbreaking study highlights the potential for ancient microbial life or its traces to be preserved in Mars' icy regions, offering new directions for future exploration missions. The findings suggest that drilling into clean ice deposits, rather than focusing on rocks or soil, could yield significant results in the search for extraterrestrial life.
The experiment simulated Martian conditions by freezing E. coli samples in pure water ice and exposing them to 50 million years' worth of cosmic radiation. Results showed that over 10% of amino acids remained intact in pure ice, while samples mixed with Martian sediment degraded ten times faster. This difference is attributed to the interaction between ice, minerals, and radiation, which accelerates organic material breakdown in mixed environments. These findings contradict earlier assumptions that organic molecules would degrade more rapidly in icy conditions.
The study also tested the effects of extremely cold temperatures relevant to Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, where degradation slowed further. This has implications for missions like NASA's upcoming Europa Clipper, which aims to explore Europa's ice-covered ocean. The research underscores the importance of targeting ice-rich regions on Mars and other celestial bodies for potential signs of life.
This work is significant as it shifts the focus from surface rocks to buried ice deposits in the search for Martian life. It not only enhances our understanding of organic material preservation but also provides a roadmap for future missions, emphasizing the need to explore ice-caps and permafrost on Mars. Such discoveries could redefine humanity's understanding of the universe and the possibility of past or present microbial life beyond Earth.
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Originally published on Science Daily on 2/25/2026