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Puna De Atacama

All articles tagged with #puna de atacama

Unearthed: Ancient Mars-like rock structures hint at possible life
space-science2 years ago

Unearthed: Ancient Mars-like rock structures hint at possible life

The NASA Perseverance rover has completed its investigation of an ancient river delta on Mars and continues its search for signs of past life. Meanwhile, the discovery of giant stromatolites in Puna de Atacama, Argentina, provides insight into what fossils on Mars may look like. Saturn's moon Enceladus shows potential for supporting life with the presence of water, energy, and organic compounds. Other notable discoveries include identifying the man on Led Zeppelin's album cover, finding ancient shoes and a Bronze Age sword, uncovering hidden murals and a hallway, and tracing Neanderthal genes in modern humans. The James Webb Space Telescope captures detailed images of a supernova remnant and a mysterious repeating fast radio burst. Lastly, engineers are working to fix a computer glitch on the Voyager 1 spacecraft, and scientists have discovered a phenomenon that keeps Himalayan glaciers cool despite global warming.

Unveiling Ancient Microbial Ecosystems: Lost Lagoon Network Discovered in Atacama Desert
science2 years ago

Unveiling Ancient Microbial Ecosystems: Lost Lagoon Network Discovered in Atacama Desert

Scientists have discovered a hidden ecosystem with an extensive network of lagoons in Argentina's Puna de Atacama, containing giant stromatolites that could provide insights into early life on Earth and potentially on Mars. Stromatolites are layered rocks created by blue-green algae, representing some of the oldest ecosystems on Earth. The recently uncovered stromatolites in Puna de Atacama are larger than modern ones and composed of gypsum and halite. The discovery suggests an undisturbed inland ecosystem that allowed their growth. The stromatolites may have formed through anoxygenic photosynthesis, similar to ancient Earth conditions. The findings could have implications for the search for life on Mars, as Mars has ancient lakes and salt deposits with similar minerals.

Microbial Wonderland: Unearthing the Hidden Lagoons of the Atacama Desert
science2 years ago

Microbial Wonderland: Unearthing the Hidden Lagoons of the Atacama Desert

Researchers have discovered a unique ecosystem in the Puna de Atacama desert in Argentina, consisting of crystal-clear lagoons hosting mounds of rock layered with microbes resembling early forms of life on Earth. The lagoons, located at high altitudes and in bone-dry conditions, offer insights into the earliest stages of life on Earth and potentially ancient life on Mars. The mounds, believed to be stromatolites, are growing from the microbes and are similar in size to ancient stromatolites. However, the site is at risk of being destroyed due to mining activities.

Unveiling Earth's Hidden Prehistoric Realm
science-and-environment2 years ago

Unveiling Earth's Hidden Prehistoric Realm

Scientists have discovered a unique ecosystem in the remote Argentina desert, consisting of greenish lagoons harboring vast bacterial communities called stromatolites. This ecosystem could provide insights into Earth's early life billions of years ago and potentially offer clues about the past environment of Mars. The discovery was made by geologist Brian Hynek and his team, who believe that this lagoon could be one of the best modern examples of the earliest signs of life on Earth. The finding highlights the ongoing potential for new discoveries on our own planet.