Young Mars had active volcanoes near a mile-deep lake. Could life have thrived there?

Scientists find evidence of tectonic activity in Mars ' Eridania region may have been more tectonically and volcanically active than previously thought.

The discovery could influence the hunt for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet , currently conducted by NASA 's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.

This is because the processes behind these features could be a close analog to scenarios concerning the origins of life that see living things emerge around hydrothermal vents.

"It's just astonishing to think about the scale of activity in this region," Cowart said.

The team's research was published on Monday ( February 12 ) in the journal Nature .