Since the existence of humans on Earth, we have been curious to know how life began on Earth. Scientists have conducted numerous studies to discover the origin of life on Earth.
In 2013, biochemist Steven Benner of The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology in Florida suggested that the early Earth did not have some chemicals required to form life on its surface. Surprisingly, Mars has these life-forming chemicals abundant. Benner revealed his research during the annual Goldschmidt geochemistry conference in Florence, Italy, on August 28, 2013.
“Evidence is building that Earth life originated on Mars and was brought to this planet aboard a meteorite,” said biochemist Steven Benner of The Westheimer Institute for Science and Technology in Florida. “It’s only when molybdenum becomes highly oxidized that it is able to influence how early life formed,” said biochemist Benner. “This form of molybdenum couldn’t have been available on Earth at the time life first began, because 3 billion years ago, the surface of the Earth had very little oxygen, but Mars did. It’s yet another piece of evidence which makes it more likely life came to Earth on a Martian meteorite, rather than starting on this planet.”
Scientists have earlier discovered that organic compounds are indeed the building blocks of life in the universe. However, they will need energy like light or heat to convert some organic molecules into tarlike substances. Benner further revealed that oxidized molybdenum or boron can be inserted into the organic compounds to produce some form of lifeform.
Benner also stated that “Analysis of a Martian meteorite recently showed that there was boron on Mars; we now believe that the oxidized form of molybdenum was there, too.”
Benner revealed that Boron cannot possibly exist in an environment where there is abundant liquid water. Since early earth was totally covered by water, this life-forming element would find it difficult to exist on early earth. However, ancient Mars has some dry areas, which created a sustainable environment for boron to form.
Currently, scientists have not discovered any evidence of life on Mars. However, many scientists believed that if life ever existed on ancient Mars, it may have possibly transported itself to earth as Martian meteorites. Studies have revealed that some unique microbes may stand the chance of surviving interplanetary journeys which will end up as an asteroid impact in the new space world.
Since this may be possible, life may have been transported from Mars to earth. Orbital dynamics also revealed that rocks can easily travel from Mars to Earth but may be difficult for rocks to move from Earth to Mars. This evidence shows that life on earth may have originated from Mars. But are we true Martians?
Are we Martian Descendants that Came to earth from mars?
Based on biochemist Steven Benner’s 2013 discovery, we may have evolved from life-building blocks that arrived on early earth as meteorites. However, scientists have also made other fascinating discoveries about how life began on earth.
But based on Benner’s discovery, we may truly be Martian descendants. But what if our hypothetical Martian ancestors refused to leave Mars? The life we know of today may have not evolved on Earth. But we should be glad humanity evolved and thrived on the most habitable and hospitable planet in the solar system. Future studies will enable us to uncover more facts about how life truly came to Earth.
Conclusion
We have been curiously searching for how life evolved on Earth. Scientists have made several suggestions about the existence of life on our home planet. But this discovery made by biochemist Benner has enabled us to move closer to finding how our first ancestors arrived on Earth. In the future, we may consider visiting Mars to colonize the red planet. What do you think about this fascinating discovery?
