Organic compounds in the lava tubes of Lanzarote may aid in the search for life on Mars.

Lava tubes are natural caves formed as a result of volcanic activity, creating unique underground ecosystems that are shielded from solar radiation and extreme temperatures. These conditions make them ideal subjects for studying ancient life forms and processes that occurred on Earth millions of years ago.

One of the best locations for such research is the easternmost island of the Canary archipelago. The lava tubes of Lanzarote have been studied for many years, with Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua discovered as early as the mid-20th century. It is noteworthy that the lava tubes of the island are popular not only among scientists — some are so large that they host underground concerts.

Recently, an international research team led by Vera Palma (Vera Palma) from the University of Évora (Portugal) studied six lava tubes on Lanzarote and found organic compounds that could serve as biomarkers — indicators of the existence of life. The research results, presented in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, also indicated that the underground caves of Lanzarote are quite similar to those on Mars.

After collecting mineral samples, the researchers analyzed them using advanced molecular and mineralogical methods, including mass spectrometry, thermogravimetry, and pyrolysis. As a result, they identified organic compounds such as alkanes and methyl esters of palmitic and stearic acids within calcium and sodium sulfate formations, which are often associated with microbial life. This discovery points to past microbiological activity and the presence of organisms such as bacteria.

“Our results enhance the understanding of geological and ecological changes on Earth and highlight lava tubes as potential refuges for microbial life. This discovery is significant for astrobiology, especially for identifying biomarkers on Mars and other celestial bodies,” explained in a press release one of the study's authors, Bogdan P. Onac (Bogdan P. Onac) from the University of South Florida (USA).

Volcanic rocks in the lava tubes of Lanzarote create an environment that protects organic compounds from weathering, aiding their preservation within minerals. This serves as evidence of ancient ecosystems on our planet and suggests that similar biomarkers could be found in Martian caves.

In the future, the results of this new study will assist in developing new methods for searching and analyzing biomarkers in Martian rocks. Thus, the lava tubes of Lanzarote bring scientists closer to understanding where and how to look for signs of life on the Red Planet.