Mars mission... to Ladakh

When Arif Husain Ansari and his team of astrobiologists visited Ladakh in August 2024, the temperature was near freezing. As they travelled to Chumathang village, about 100 km from Leh, the thin air made it difficult for them to breathe. But the researchers carried on, for they were scouring the high-altitude plateau to study potential life-supporting conditions on Mars.

Ansari, a biogeologist at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Lucknow, heads an astrobiology project on Ladakh's high-altitude hot springs. These springs were selected for analogue studies because the conditions there closely resemble those on Mars. The team is studying how life forms persist in such environments — aiming to explore the possibility of life on other planets.

The researchers conducted in situ measurements using water quality analyser probes and collected samples for further analyses. They were looking for extremophiles, or organisms thriving in extreme conditions. The team observed significant differences in the organic profiles of high- and low-altitude hot springs, with extremophiles producing protective metabolites in harsher environments. The hot springs release extra polymeric substances, jelly-like protective compounds containing antibiotics and sunscreen-like molecules, which help the microorganisms endure intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation and temperature fluctuations. These findings make Ladakh the ideal site for studying life on Mars.

Ansari reviewed past Mars missions, noting limitations in targeting specific rocks for organic detection. Inspired by a 2018 study (bit.ly/Silica-Astrobiology), he identified hydrothermal deposits rich in silica as ideal for preserving ancient life signs. His project aims to identify organics indicative of microbial activity on Mars (bit.ly/Hydro-Ladakh).