Vita in Meridiani Planum, Marte

We performed a quantitative image analysis to compare microstructures of microbialites with the images photographed by the Rover Opportunity (25,000/15,000 microstructures, earth/Mars). Terrestrial and Martian textures present a multifranctal aspect. Mean values and confidence intervals from the Martian images overlapped perfectly with those from the terrestrial samples (p<0.004). Terrestrial abiogenic pseudostromatolites showed a simple fractal structure and different morphometric values with a less ordered texture (p<0.001). Our work shows the presumptive evidence of microbialites in the Martian outcroppings: the presence of unicellular life widespread on the ancient Mars.