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Biological Validation and Agnostic Experiments for Extant and Extinct Microbial Life within the Martian Subsurface.

Scott M Perl1,2,3, Charles S Cockell4,5, Woodward W Fischer6

  • 1Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Astrobiology
|July 15, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Advanced methods now allow for agnostic life detection in extreme environments. Future Mars missions can test for subsurface microbial life using metabolic processes as key indicators.

Keywords:
Mars—Subsurface—Geobiology—Extant life—Life detection

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Area of Science:

  • Astrobiology
  • Subsurface Microbiology
  • Planetary Science

Background:

  • Investigations of Earth's subsurface and low-biomass systems have advanced understanding of life's environmental limits.
  • Methodological progress enables agnostic life detection through physical biosignatures and chemical biomarkers.
  • Past Mars missions (e.g., Viking) yielded equivocal results, shifting focus from direct life detection to surface habitability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a shift in Mars exploration strategy towards direct detection of extant microbial life.
  • To highlight the potential of subsurface environments on Mars for preserving biosignatures.
  • To advocate for the use of metabolic processes as a key indicator for life detection.

Main Methods:

  • Leveraging advances in subsurface microbiology and agnostic life detection techniques.
  • Focusing on identifying active life and preserved biosignatures through metabolism and biochemical markers.
  • Analyzing terrestrial low-biomass systems to understand life's environmental limits.

Main Results:

  • Current methodologies permit the detection of biology and its associated biosignatures in extreme environments.
  • Subsurface environments on Mars are considered more likely to retain evidence of life.
  • Terrestrial studies show biological processes influence the crust, but habitability doesn't guarantee life.

Conclusions:

  • Mars missions are now equipped to transition towards direct tests for extant microbial life in the subsurface.
  • Metabolic processes offer a broadly applicable and measurable indicator for detecting life.
  • Future exploration should prioritize subsurface investigations to search for active microbial ecosystems.