Research on Protein Preservation in the Sabkha of the United Arab Emirates

With the evolution of Mars, a large amount of water has evaporated and the water input is low, making most areas of Mars increasingly arid. The sabkha environment on Earth is an analogue for studying the evolution of life on Mars. It is often found in coastal and arid regions and is mostly flat or slightly sloping low-lying areas, either near the coast or in inland basins. For example, the sabkha on the Arabian Peninsula is flat and is affected by tidal and groundwater activities, which is conducive to the accumulation of sediments and salts. In the Chott el Djerid in southern Tunisia, the sabkha salt pans are extensive, and evaporite deposits such as halite, gypsum are common. During evaporation, the sediments dry and contract, and cracks and polygonal patterns will appear on the surface of the sediments. Its high salinity, variable temperature and humidity are similar to the surface environment of Mars. Salt can keep water in a liquid state under low temperature and low pressure. Therefore, the high-salt areas on Mars similar to sabkha may be the key places for preserving traces of past life.