Lead author Alexis Rodriguez, in a paper published in the Planetary Science Journal this week, referred to this discovery as groundbreaking and stated that it expands our understanding of the environmental conditions where life might thrive.
These Mercurian glaciers, unlike those on Earth, are believed to be composed of salt rather than water and may exist several miles below the surface of Mercury’s polar areas.
This hidden environment could potentially contain habitable zones similar to extreme conditions found on Earth. Notably, NASA’s Solar System Workings (SSW) Program provided partial funding for this research.
The revelation follows recent findings that suggest the presence of organic materials on Ganymede, one of
Jupiter’s moons, which is larger than Mercury. If confirmed, the discovery of glaciers on Mercury could revolutionize astrobiology, the study of life beyond Earth.
It not only hints at the possibility of life existing in extreme environments within our solar system but also implies that planets resembling Mercury found elsewhere in the galaxy might also be potentially habitable. Until now, Mercury was considered too close to the sun to support life.
Rodriguez noted that this discovery aligns with other recent research indicating the presence of nitrogen glaciers on Pluto, showing that glaciers can exist on both the hottest and coldest celestial bodies in the solar system.
It is worth noting that the glaciers on Mercury are distinct from those on Earth, originating from salt flows and being exposed by asteroid impacts. On Earth, specific salt compounds can create habitable zones even in otherwise inhospitable environments.
