Strange 'Identity' Rock on Mars Reignites Debate About the Existence of Life Beyond Earth
November 23, 2025795 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The discovery of an unusual rock on the surface of Mars has revived scientific discussion about the possibility of indicators of life beyond Earth, after preliminary studies revealed that it does not match the nature of Martian rocks and contains exceptionally high levels of metals.
The rock, observed by NASA's Perseverance rover near the edge of Jezero Crater—believed by researchers to have been home to ancient water and possibly life—quickly attracted scientists' attention due to its 'sculpted' appearance and unusual composition.
The rock measures about 80 centimeters wide and has been named 'Vibsaxtla.' When examined by the 'SuperCam' device, which uses lasers to analyze materials, it was found to contain an unprecedentedly high concentration of iron and nickel, a signature typically associated with metallic meteorites coming from outside Mars.
Dr. Candice Bedford from Purdue University, a member of the Perseverance operations team, explained that “the mixing of iron-nickel at this level often indicates meteorites formed in the cores of large asteroids within the solar system,” supporting the hypothesis that the rock is not of Martian origin.
Since its landing in 2021, the American rover has continued to study the geology of the northern part of Jezero Crater, an area of significant scientific interest due to evidence suggesting it was once filled with water. In its recent journey to the Vernoden area above the crater, the rover captured images of the controversial rock.
While finding meteorites is common on a planet covered in craters, the high concentration of heavy metals in this particular body is extremely rare, according to Professor Gareth Collins from Imperial College London, who confirmed that Mars “is hit by meteorites almost daily,” yet only one in every twenty meteorites is rich in iron and nickel.
Dr. Gareth Dorian from the University of Birmingham suggests that the meteorite may have originated from the asteroid belt, noting that metallic meteorites can survive atmospheric friction on Mars due to their toughness and resistance to weathering.
While scientists believe the rock is likely an ordinary space meteorite, its strange composition and exceptional features keep the door open for curious questions about the possibility of undiscovered secrets in the depths of the solar system.
The rock, observed by NASA's Perseverance rover near the edge of Jezero Crater—believed by researchers to have been home to ancient water and possibly life—quickly attracted scientists' attention due to its 'sculpted' appearance and unusual composition.
The rock measures about 80 centimeters wide and has been named 'Vibsaxtla.' When examined by the 'SuperCam' device, which uses lasers to analyze materials, it was found to contain an unprecedentedly high concentration of iron and nickel, a signature typically associated with metallic meteorites coming from outside Mars.
Dr. Candice Bedford from Purdue University, a member of the Perseverance operations team, explained that “the mixing of iron-nickel at this level often indicates meteorites formed in the cores of large asteroids within the solar system,” supporting the hypothesis that the rock is not of Martian origin.
Since its landing in 2021, the American rover has continued to study the geology of the northern part of Jezero Crater, an area of significant scientific interest due to evidence suggesting it was once filled with water. In its recent journey to the Vernoden area above the crater, the rover captured images of the controversial rock.
While finding meteorites is common on a planet covered in craters, the high concentration of heavy metals in this particular body is extremely rare, according to Professor Gareth Collins from Imperial College London, who confirmed that Mars “is hit by meteorites almost daily,” yet only one in every twenty meteorites is rich in iron and nickel.
Dr. Gareth Dorian from the University of Birmingham suggests that the meteorite may have originated from the asteroid belt, noting that metallic meteorites can survive atmospheric friction on Mars due to their toughness and resistance to weathering.
While scientists believe the rock is likely an ordinary space meteorite, its strange composition and exceptional features keep the door open for curious questions about the possibility of undiscovered secrets in the depths of the solar system.
