Mars Was Once Suitable for Life, NASA Confirms

Curiosity rover successfully drilled into a Martian rock, giving us a peek at the Red Planet's habitable history. The 1.8-inch-wide scoop of powdered rock revealed that ancient Mars could have supported living microbes

"We have found a habitable environment that is so benign and supportive of life that, if this water had been around and you had been on the planet, you would have been able to drink it," said John Grotzinger, Curiosity project scientist.

After breaking down and analyzing the powder, scientists found the rock contained sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon — all key chemical ingredients for life.