Ancient impact craters on Mars were probably also home to hydrothermal activity, making them good places to search for signs of life, the team reports online February 19 in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. (sciencenews.org)
The central region, known as the southern highlands, is heavily pockmarked by ancient impact sites, while a large section in the upper left of the image is taken up by the Hellas Basin. (newatlas.com)
The researchers think volcanic lightning or the heat of ancient impacts on Mars» surface were responsible for nitrogen fixation on the Red Planet. (sciencenews.org)