Surprising discovery on Mars: maybe there is life there even today?

A European spacecraft detected hydrogen chloride above the Alba Mons volcano on Mars, precisely during a season when it was not expected. Researchers speculate that hot magma deep underground may create suitable conditions for microbial life, but emphasize that there is no direct evidence.

The European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter detected tiny concentrations of hydrogen chloride above the northern slopes of the Alba Mons volcano on Mars. The gas appears specifically at the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere, a season when it was not expected. The researchers, led by Alexander Trokhimovsky from the Space Research Institute in Moscow, speculate that the gas comes from hot magma deep underground, through narrow cracks discovered in the area. The study was published on November 4, 2026, in the journal Science Advances. If the hypothesis is correct, there may be subsurface hydrothermal systems that could provide suitable conditions for bacteria and microorganisms. However, the researchers emphasize that there is no direct evidence of life or active volcanic activity, and that hydrogen chloride may also be produced by other chemical processes. The headline uses an intriguing phrasing, but the body is cautious and clarifies that this is only a hypothesis.