According to the British Daily Mail reported on June 19, scientists from the University of Oxford said that, after comparing the composition of Martian meteorites with Mars rocks, they made a conclusion that, as early as 40 million years ago, Mars is rich in oxygen in the atmosphere. This means that the oxygen presented one billion years earlier than that in earth. American magazine Nature published this new study reports.

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The leader of the study, Professor Bernard Wood from University of Oxford said, "This shows that about 40 billion years ago, Mars had oxygen-enriched atmosphere, which is 2.5 billion years or so earlier compared to the period that an increase of oxygen happened on earth. Oxygen gives unique color to Mars, making it like a 'red planet'. In billions of years ago, before earth became the planet with sufficient oxygen, here is likely to be a warm, wet planet."

In this study, the scientists used the Nasa's "Spirit" rover to transmit data of Martian rocks. The Mars prober explores in the oldest regions on Mars and collects rock samples from 3.7 billion years ago.

It is reported that these Martian rocks are associated with volcanic eruption. Data shows that they were exposed to oxygen-rich environment before being "recycled" and buried beneath the surface due to geological movement - it is this kind of environment under surface that enables the evidence for oxidization, can be completely preserved.

At the same time, scientists also believe that the difference in composition between Martian meteorite on earth and Mars rocks is the most compelling evidence for oxygen in early age of Mars. And this also shows that life may have present on Mars.

However, whether there is some relationship between the presence of oxygen and the presence of life on Mars still needs further study.