NASA Discovers ‘Spiderweb’ Formations On Mars That Might Hold Evidence Of Alien Life

Martians have long been a staple of science fiction, appearing in countless forms across movies and TV shows. But as far as we’ve come to believe, there isn’t any actual life on Mars. Or could there be?

NASA’s Curiosity Rover has made a remarkable discovery that might help scientists determine if life ever existed on the red planet. This find could be a game-changer in understanding Mars’ history and its potential for supporting life.

For anyone unfamiliar with Curiosity, NASA describes it as: "Part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, Curiosity, was the largest and most capable rover ever sent to Mars when it launched in 2011."

"Curiosity set out to answer the question: Did Mars ever have the right environmental conditions to support small life forms called microbes? Early in its mission, Curiosity's scientific tools found chemical and mineral evidence of past habitable environments on Mars."

"It continues to explore the rock record from a time when Mars could have been home to microbial life."

The rover has been delivering some groundbreaking results. It has already revealed that Mars might have been a habitable planet millions, if not billions, of years ago. Now, it has uncovered strange ‘spiderweb’ structures on the Martian surface that might hold clues about the existence of alien life in the past.

The spiderweb-like formations were initially spotted back in 2006, stretching across six to 12 miles in length. This area of the Martian desert, located near the planet’s equator, is now being explored for the first time. The structures are situated close to Mount Sharp, a towering three-mile-high Martian mountain.

Before you imagine extraterrestrial beings like E.T., these potential signs of life would likely come from microscopic organisms. Even so, any confirmation of such life would be an extraordinary discovery.

Scientists currently believe these spiderweb formations are large-scale versions of “boxwork.” On Earth, boxwork is a type of mineral formation typically found in caves.

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used the camera at the end of its arm in April and May 2014 to take dozens of component images combined into this self-portrait where the rover drilled into a sandstone target called 'Windjana' NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS via Getty Images

The National Park Service explains how boxwork is formed, noting that it is “made of thin blades of calcite that project from cave walls and ceilings, forming a honeycomb pattern. The fins intersect one another at various angles, forming ‘boxes’ on all cave surfaces.”

However, the Martian version of boxwork appears to have formed through a different process. Instead of being made of calcite, this structure seems to have been shaped by seawater, making it an entirely unique phenomenon.

Dr. Kirsten Siebach, a geologist at Rice University in Texas, has theorized that these formations may contain fossils of ancient microbial life, offering a direct glimpse into Mars' potentially life-supporting past.

Boxwork as seen in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota National Park Service

"These ridges will include minerals that crystallized underground, where it would have been warmer," she explained.

"Early Earth microbes could have survived in a similar environment."

Researchers now hypothesize that mineral-rich water once flowed down from Mount Sharp, carving and shaping the intricate webbing. They estimate that around 113 billion gallons of warm, salty water would have been necessary to create these formations, showcasing the dramatic environmental changes Mars may have undergone.