Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Shawn Wright discovered 'shocked soil,' a new type of impactite, while doing field work among the basaltic volcanic rock of Lonar crater in the Deccan region of India.

How this affects you

This discovery of 'shocked soil' on Earth, which is rare due to rapid weathering, suggests that such material could be abundant on Mars. These impactites may preserve crucial information about past microbes, organics, water, and atmospheric conditions, offering valuable insights for astrobiologists and atmospheric scientists studying the possibility of life beyond Earth.