In a major scientific breakthrough, researchers have discovered that the high-altitude hot springs of Ladakh, particularly in the Puga Valley, could provide vital insights into how life may have first emerged on Earth—and possibly on Mars.
The study, led by scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), examined travertine deposits (calcium carbonate formations) from the Puga hot springs, situated at an altitude of approximately 14,500 feet. These mineral-rich formations were found to trap and preserve organic molecules, including amino acid derivatives, fatty acids, sulfur compounds, and formamide—key building blocks in the chemistry of life.
“Our research shows that these hot springs act as a natural laboratory, where heat, minerals, and water interact in ways that could simulate early Earth or even Mars,” said Dr. Amritpal Singh Chaddha, one of the lead authors of the study. “The travertine deposits effectively concentrate and stabilize prebiotic molecules, even under extreme conditions.”