The question of whether life ever existed on Mars is closer to an answer, according to new research presented at the COSPAR space conference in Florence. Teresa Fornaro, a researcher at the INAF Arcetri Observatory who collaborates on the Perseverance mission, told ANSA that the rover's discovery of minerals typically produced by microorganisms on Earth, along with complex organic matter, is increasing the likelihood that Mars was once inhabited. Fornaro emphasized that any life would likely have been microbial, living underground to shield from radiation and drawing energy from rocks. However, she noted that the organic matter found is heavily altered, making it difficult to trace its origin, and a definitive answer will only come from analyzing samples on Earth.