Potential habitability of present-day Mars subsurface for terrestrial-like methanogens

TL;DR

This study explores the potential for life, specifically methanogens similar to Earth's, to exist in the deep subsurface of Mars by analyzing environmental conditions, water sources, and thermal models.

Contribution

It identifies a plausible deep subsurface habitat on Mars that could support terrestrial-like methanogens based on environmental and geological data.

Findings

Deep Martian subsurface could host methanogens at 4.3-8.8 km depth.

Potential habitat aligns with known methanogenic families Methanosarcinaceae and Methanomicrobiaceae.

Mars' subsurface conditions may support life similar to terrestrial methanogens.

Abstract

The intense debate about the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere has stimulated the study of methanogens adapted to terrestrial habitats that mimic Martian environments. We examinate the environmental conditions, energy sources and ecology of terrestrial methanogens thriving in deep crystalline fractures, sub-sea hypersaline lakes and subglacial water bodies considered as analogs of a hypothetical habitable Martian subsurface. We combine this information with recent data on the distribution of buried water or ice and radiogenic elements on Mars and with models of the subsurface thermal regime of this planet to identify a 4.3-8.8 km-deep regolith habitat at the mid-latitude location of Acidalia Planitia, that might fit the requirements for hosting putative Martian methanogens analogous to the methanogenic families Methanosarcinaceae and Methanomicrobiaceae.