NASA has unveiled proof that Mars was capable of hosting life on the planet in a huge scientific breakthrough. They added there were multiple different lifeforms living on the typically frozen planet, adding that aliens would have thrived there.

The latest data sent from space revealed that Mars went through several epochs where water would flow throughout the planet. The data, collected by NASA's own Mars Rover, seems to prove that all conditions were once there to support life on Mars, meaning Earth would not be the only planet in our solar system to foster living creatures.

Space scientists were able to pick out and identify around two dozen different forms of minerals and rocks, all of which share a deep and rich history on the Red Planet. These rocks were seemingly altered by water from the well-known Jezero Crater, meaning the area was a breeding ground for habitation on several different occasions.

The Daily Mail reported that the water had chemically changed the rocks into different salts and clays, showing at least three different types of fluid activity on Mars. These ranged from acidic water -- similar to sulfuric acid, a more neutral condition that could support life, and a low-temperature set of conditions that would give Mars its best chance at supporting life.

Eleanor Moreland, from Rice University in Texas, said the discoveries are a major breakthrough for the study of our closest planetary neighbour. "The minerals we find in Jezero support multiple, temporally distinct episodes of fluid alteration," she explained.

"This indicates there were several times in Mars' history when these particular volcanic rocks interacted with liquid water," Eleanor continued. "And therefore more than one time when this location hosted environments potentially suitable for life."

Exploration of Mars has been ramped up in recent years thanks to the landing of the NASA Perseverance rover in the Jezero Crater back in February of 2021. Since then, the techy gizmo has unlocked several secrets of Martian history, all of which point of ancient life elsewhere in space.

For example, inside the 28-mile-wide crater, the rover was able to unearth a frozen lake, as well as a river delta, which all point to a time when water flowed as a liquid. As well as this, other information such as bizarre rock formations and the beginnings of organic molecules that show life was starting to grow.

Scientists also used state of the art tools to help identify some of the minerals in the data picked up by the rover to compare it to a database of known rock types. Through their research, they found a series of different forms of rock in small patches across the crater.

These include hisingerite -- an acidic volcanic rock that only forms in high temperatures -- as well as ferroaluminoceladonite, which forms when rocks are exposed to hot fluids, but not acidic. Researchers admitted these would be "challenging" conditions for life to grow.

However, the scientific group leading the research said alien life can thrive even in extreme environments. On Earth, we have several spots that seem lethal or impossible for life to exist -- such as the acid pools at Yellowstone -- have been able to support suitable living conditions.

NASA unveils proof of life on Mars as aliens would have thrived in conditions - Daily Star