Images released on September 10 of Mars' surface, taken by the NASA rover Perseverance, show a potential biosignature that could indicate the red planet once harbored life between 3.2-3.8 billion years ago, according to a paper published in Nature.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy explained that, throughout the course of a year, scientists examined the data of what is thought to be an ancient underwater area and concluded that "we can't find another explanation, so this very well could be the clearest sign of life that we've ever found on Mars-which is incredibly exciting."
Mars has always fascinated scientists, and it is believed to be the planet with the closest conditions to Earth for life in our solar system. Various projects with rovers have been sent looking for traces of bioactivity, among other experiments and data collection efforts.
In this gallery, you can explore the beautiful landscapes of our neighboring planet in breathtaking images. Click through to get started.