Nasa finds key mineral for life on Mars

An orbiting spacecraft has discovered a key mineral in bedrock on the surface of Mars that suggests the planet might once have had an environment hospitable to life, scientists reported today.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter detected carbonate mineral in rock outcrops in Nili Fossae, a region of valleys that have cut into the planet’s ancient crust, suggesting the area was not as harsh as other places on Mars.