July 5 – “Was there life on Mars? Is there a link between salt in Slovenia and Italy and Mars?” These are the questions, which may seem bizarre, that will be given a scientific explanation during a “Summer camp,” organized by the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Set in the salt marshes of Comacchio and Cervia, the Saltworks Project focuses on the sustainable exploitation of salt marshes between Italy and Slovenia and it is co-funded by the Italy-Slovenia Program. From the secrets of Italian and Slovenian salt possible links with the search for life on Mars could emerge. From Monday until July 12, 8 students of the Master of Science in Geological Sciences and Technologies at the University of Modena and Reggio-Emilia, led by Professor Stefano Lugli, will have the opportunity to carry out scientific research in the two salt marshes, studying the interactions between salt crystallization and algae and bacteria biological activity. Professor Lugli will present the research work carried out by the students, emphasizing the link between the geological studies carried out on salt and gypsum crystals and the search for possible life on Mars during two events, the first on Sunday, July 7, at the Casa Museo Remo Brinidisi in the Spina Lido (Comacchio), and the second on Friday, July 12, in the Salinari square of Cervia (Ra). “One way to find out whether there is actually a link – says Professor Lugli – is to study the salt and gypsum that were found on Mars. These two minerals can contain traces of ancient organisms, even hundreds of thousands of years old. We will discuss how these crystals are able to incorporate and preserve viruses, bacteria and algae, making our natural salt marshes extraordinary laboratories to understand how to study Martian rocks and verify the presence of ancient life on the planet.”
