Mars Minerals Reveals an Ancient Ocean's Potential For Life - and a Possible Way to Make Oxygen

Researchers have identified a ring of minerals around the largest basin in the northern hemisphere of Mars (which past research suggests held a large body of water). Phys.org says the research provides new clues on when life may have been possible on Mars — and how future astronauts could make oxygen: Manganese oxides and hydroxides (collectively written as manganese (hydr)oxides) can act as geological proxies for past oceans… The team involved in the new study analyzed short-wave infrared (SWIR) data from China’s Zhurong rover, ESA’s OMEGA orbiter and NASA’s CRISM orbiter to identify and qu