Categories: Lifestyle

New island on Earth could be the key to finding life in Mars

It was announced today at the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) that the new island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai is a natural lab to study life in Mars.

The volcanic island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai, surfaced from the Pacific Ocean two years ago in 2015, and has been gradually transforming due to erosion until a few months ago when its shape stabilised.

The island grew out of the Hunga Volcano,  a 1.3km-high mountain that is submerged in the southwest Pacific at the Tonga archipelago. Scientists at NASA are thoroughly studying the changes happening in the new island because they believe this island is similar to geological processes taking place in Mars.

This study is crucial to understand if life is possible on the Red Planet. Volcanic processes often carry good conditions that supports microbial communities.

According to Dr Jim Garvin, chief scientist at the US space agency’s (Nasa) Goddard Space Flight Center, Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai rose from an underwater volcanic explosion in the Pacific, and this process can help us understand paleowater and the depths of Mars.

Dr Gavin said “…we are going to use Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai on Earth to train us to understand Mars.” Dr Gavin and colleagues have been reporting their studies of HTHH at the the world’s largest annual gathering of Earth and planetary scientists, The Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) which is taking place from the 11th to the 15th of December.

Words: Kate Reichardt | Subbing: Stephanie Malcolm | Images and video: NASA

Voice of London

Recent Posts

Escaping the rent trap – Welcome to the UK’s housing crisis

As the cost of living in the UK continues to rise, renters are facing an…

2 years ago

Fashion trends prediction for 2023

According to various fashion editors, critics and publications, 2023 will be a mesh between continuing…

2 years ago

BLACKPINK take over the O2

The biggest girl group in the world shut down the O2 arena in December. The…

2 years ago

Does museum glass cause more harm than good to oil paintings?

With many paintings in danger of damage, are museums protecting the longevity of their valuables?…

2 years ago

Chelsea are undefeated since the World Cup as they face Man City on Thursday

Chelsea F.C. have gotten off to a good start since Christmas and haven't lost a…

2 years ago

Tottenham falls behind in the Champions League race

Tottenham Hotspur lost their first game since Christmas in a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa…

2 years ago
В joycasino казино вас ждут захватывающие игры и щедрые бонусы. Регистрация занимает всего пару минут, а зеркало обеспечит удобный вход. Используйте промокоды для максимальных выигрышей. блекспрут зеркало блекспрут зеркало блекспрут ссылкаблекспрут ссылка blacksprut blacksprut