Researchers have spotted Magnetofossils in rock varnish layers in Ladakh.
What are magentofossils?
- Magnetofossils are the fossilised remains of magnetic particles created by magnetotactic bacteria, also known as magnetobacteria, and found preserved within the geological records.
- Magnetotactic bacteria are mostly prokaryotic organisms that arrange themselves along the earth’s magnetic field.
- Magnetotactic bacteria are mostly prokaryotic organisms that arrange themselves along the earth’s magnetic field. These unique creatures were first described fairly recently, in 1963, by Salvatore Bellini, an Italian doctor and then again in 1975 by Richard Blakemore of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts.
- These organisms were believed to follow the magnetic field to reach places that had optimal oxygen concentration.
- The study suggesting biotic processes in the formation of rock varnish indicates how life can exist in extreme environments, providing valuable insights for astrobiology as well as for planning future space missions targeting to identify habitable environments in space.
- Ladakh, known as the “cold desert of India,” experiences extreme climatic conditions such as high UV radiation, significant temperature variations, and limited water availability, making it a suitable terrestrial analogue for Martian studies.
- Researchers from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow (BSIP) were inspired by the similarity between the rock varnish observed in Ladakh and that seen on Mars, particularly during the Perseverance rover operations.
- By identifying biotic signatures in rock varnish, scientists can better target potential biosignatures on Mars and other planetary bodies, aiding the search for extraterrestrial life.
