Mason sets eyes on Mars, NASAMason sets eyes on Mars, NASA

You mean to tell me there is life on Mars? More like there was life, and humanoid beings with large heads, but on a micro scale.  

Kinsley Mason, 25, of Pensacola, Florida, is a Chadron State College graduate assistant researching just that.  

“I am investigating biotic influences on the formation of iron-oxides in rock and their role on Mars” said Mason. “How bacteria can effect formation of minerals inside of rocks and how this shows past life on Mars.” 

Knowing that flowing water was once on Mars long ago, about 3.8 billion years ago, is a good indication there was life as well.  

“Mars had an accelerated planetary life cycle,” said Mason. 

There is no more atmosphere and most of the surface water went away, so any life left behind can still be found.  

“The ideal outcome of my research would be bacteria could have lived in past geological settings on Mars, which could show influences on iron-oxide formations in a controlled lab setting,” said Mason. 

Other words, iron-rich rocks on Mars could have fossilized bacteria in them.  

This is aligned with the Perseverance rover 2020 Mars mission objectives, which Mason hopes her research will contribute to in the search of bio-signatures when the mission gets underway.  

In 2019, Mason was awarded the NASA Fellowship Grant, which she used to further her research, which currently includes isolating and identifying iron-oxidizing bacteria from acid mine drainage. The samples used for her reaserch were donated by Jeffrey Kiiskila, assistant professor of mathematics and natural sciences.   

Mason hopes to receive her M.S. in Science Education from Chadron State College, and earn a PhD in Astrobiology.