A Habitable Fluvio-Lacustrine Environment at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater, Mars
Authors: Grotzinger J. P. , Sumner D. Y. , Kah L. C. , Stack K. , Gupta S. , Edgar L. , Rubin D. , Lewis K. , Schieber J. , Mangold N. , Milliken R. , Conrad P. G. , DesMarais D. , Farmer J. , Siebach K. , Calef F. , Hurowitz J. , McLennan S. M. , Ming D. , Vaniman D. , Crisp J. , Vasavada A. , Edgett K. S. , Malin M. , Blake D. , Gellert R. , Mahaffy P. , Wiens R. C. , Maurice S. , Grant J. A. , Wilson S. , Anderson R. C. , Beegle L. , Arvidson R. , Hallet B. , Sletten R. S. , Rice M. , Bell J. , Griffes J. , Ehlmann B. , Anderson R. B. , Bristow T. F. , Dietrich W. E. , Dromart G. , Eigenbrode J. , Fraeman A. , Hardgrove C. , Herkenhoff K. , Jandura L. , Kocurek G. , Lee S. , Leshin L. A. , Leveille R. , Limonadi D. , Maki J. , McCloskey S. , Meyer M. , Minitti M. , Newsom H. , Oehler D. , Okon A. , Palucis M. , Parker T. , Rowland S. , Schmidt M. , Squyres S. , Steele A. , Stolper E. , Summons R. , Treiman A. , Williams R. , Yingst A. , Team MSL Science , Kemppinen Osku , Bridges Nathan , Johnson Jeffrey R. , Cremers David , Godber Austin , Wadhwa Meenakshi , Wellington Danika , McEwan Ian , Newman Claire , Richardson Mark , Charpentier Antoine , Peret Laurent , King Penelope , Blank Jennifer , Weigle Gerald , Li Shuai , Robertson Kevin , Sun Vivian , Baker Michael , Edwards Christopher , Farley Kenneth , Miller Hayden , Newcombe Megan , Pilorget Cedric , Brunet Claude , Hipkin Victoria , Léveillé Richard , Marchand Geneviève , Sánchez Pablo Sobrón , Favot Laurent , Cody George , Flückiger Lorenzo , Lees David , Nefian Ara , Martin Mildred , Gailhanou Marc , Westall Frances , Israël Guy , Agard Christophe , Baroukh Julien , Donny Christophe , Gaboriaud Alain , Guillemot Philippe , Lafaille Vivian , Lorigny Eric , Paillet Alexis , Pérez René , Saccoccio Muriel , Yana Charles , Armiens-Aparicio Carlos , Rodríguez Javier Caride , Blázquez Isaías Carrasco , Gómez Felipe Gómez , Gómez-Elvira Javier , Hettrich Sebastian , Malvitte Alain Lepinette , Jiménez Mercedes Marín , Martínez-Frías Jesús , Martín-Soler Javier , Martín-Torres F. Javier , Jurado Antonio Molina , Mora-Sotomayor Luis , Caro Guillermo Muñoz , López Sara Navarro , Peinado-González Verónica , Pla-García Jorge , Manfredi José Antonio Rodriguez , Romeral-Planelló Julio José , Fuentes Sara Alejandra Sans , Martinez Eduardo Sebastian , Redondo Josefina Torres , Urqui-O’Callaghan Roser , Mier María-Paz Zorzano , Chipera Steve , Lacour Jean-Luc , Mauchien Patrick , Sirven Jean-Baptiste , Manning Heidi , Fairén Alberto , Hayes Alexander , Joseph Jonathan , Sullivan Robert , Thomas Peter , Dupont Audrey , Lundberg Angela , Melikechi Noureddine , Mezzacappa Alissa , DeMarines Julia , Grinspoon David , Reitz Günther , Prats Benito , Atlaskin Evgeny , Genzer Maria , Harri Ari-Matti , Haukka Harri , Kahanpää Henrik , Kauhanen Janne , Paton Mark , Polkko Jouni , Schmidt Walter , Siili Tero , Fabre Cécile , Wray James , Wilhelm Mary Beth , Poitrasson Franck , Patel Kiran , Gorevan Stephen , Indyk Stephen , Paulsen Gale , Bish David , Gondet Brigitte , Langevin Yves , Geffroy Claude , Baratoux David , Berger Gilles , Cros Alain , d’Uston Claude , Forni Olivier , Gasnault Olivier , Lasue Jérémie , Lee Qiu-Mei , Meslin Pierre-Yves , Pallier Etienne , Parot Yann , Pinet Patrick , Schröder Susanne , Toplis Mike , Lewin Éric , Brunner Will , Heydari Ezat , Achilles Cherie , Sutter Brad , Cabane Michel , Coscia David , Szopa Cyril , Robert François , Sautter Violaine , Le Mouélic Stéphane , Nachon Marion , Buch Arnaud , Stalport Fabien , Coll Patrice , François Pascaline , Raulin François , Teinturier Samuel , Cameron James , Clegg Sam , Cousin Agnès , DeLapp Dorothea , Dingler Robert , Jackson Ryan Steele , Johnstone Stephen , Lanza Nina , Little Cynthia , Nelson Tony , Williams Richard B. , Jones Andrea , Kirkland Laurel , Baker Burt , Cantor Bruce , Caplinger Michael , Davis Scott , Duston Brian , Fay Donald , Harker David , Herrera Paul , Jensen Elsa , Kennedy Megan R. , Krezoski Gillian , Krysak Daniel , Lipkaman Leslie , McCartney Elaina , McNair Sean , Nixon Brian , Posiolova Liliya , Ravine Michael , Salamon Andrew , Saper Lee , Stoiber Kevin , Supulver Kimberley , Van Beek Jason , Van Beek Tessa , Zimdar Robert , French Katherine Louise , Iagnemma Karl , Miller Kristen , Goesmann Fred , Goetz Walter , Hviid Stubbe , Johnson Micah , Lefavor Matthew , Lyness Eric , Breves Elly , Dyar M. Darby , Fassett Caleb , Edwards Laurence , Haberle Robert , Hoehler Tori , Hollingsworth Jeff , Kahre Melinda , Keely Leslie , McKay Christopher , Bleacher Lora , Brinckerhoff William , Choi David , Dworkin Jason P. , Floyd Melissa , Freissinet Caroline , Garvin James , Glavin Daniel , Harpold Daniel , Martin David K. , McAdam Amy , Pavlov Alexander , Raaen Eric , Smith Michael D. , Stern Jennifer , Tan Florence , Trainer Melissa , Posner Arik , Voytek Mary , Aubrey Andrew , Behar Alberto , Blaney Diana , Brinza David , Christensen Lance , DeFlores Lauren , Feldman Jason , Feldman Sabrina , Flesch Gregory , Jun Insoo , Keymeulen Didier , Mischna Michael , Morookian John Michael , Pavri Betina , Schoppers Marcel , Sengstacken Aaron , Simmonds John J. , Spanovich Nicole , Juarez Manuel de la Torre , Webster Christopher R. , Yen Albert , Archer Paul Douglas , Cucinotta Francis , Jones John H. , Morris Richard V. , Niles Paul , Rampe Elizabeth , Nolan Thomas , Fisk Martin , Radziemski Leon , Barraclough Bruce , Bender Steve , Berman Daniel , Dobrea Eldar Noe , Tokar Robert , Cleghorn Timothy , Huntress Wesley , Manhès Gérard , Hudgins Judy , Olson Timothy , Stewart Noel , Sarrazin Philippe , Vicenzi Edward , Bullock Mark , Ehresmann Bent , Hamilton Victoria , Hassler Donald , Peterson Joseph , Rafkin Scot , Zeitlin Cary , Fedosov Fedor , Golovin Dmitry , Karpushkina Natalya , Kozyrev Alexander , Litvak Maxim , Malakhov Alexey , Mitrofanov Igor , Mokrousov Maxim , Nikiforov Sergey , Prokhorov Vasily , Sanin Anton , Tretyakov Vladislav , Varenikov Alexey , Vostrukhin Andrey , Kuzmin Ruslan , Clark Benton , Wolff Michael , Botta Oliver , Drake Darrell , Bean Keri , Lemmon Mark , Schwenzer Susanne P. , Lee Ella Mae , Sucharski Robert , Hernández Miguel Ángel de Pablo , Ávalos Juan José Blanco , Ramos Miguel , Kim Myung-Hee , Malespin Charles , Plante Ianik , Muller Jan-Peter , Navarro-González Rafael , Ewing Ryan , Boynton William , Downs Robert , Fitzgibbon Mike , Harshman Karl , Morrison Shaunna , Kortmann Onno , Williams Amy , Lugmair Günter , Wilson Michael A. , Jakosky Bruce , Balic-Zunic Tonci , Frydenvang Jens , Jensen Jaqueline Kløvgaard , Kinch Kjartan , Koefoed Asmus , Madsen Morten Bo , Stipp Susan Louise Svane , Boyd Nick , Campbell John L. , Perrett Glynis , Pradler Irina , VanBommel Scott , Jacob Samantha , Owen Tobias , Savijärvi Hannu , Boehm Eckart , Böttcher Stephan , Burmeister Sönke , Guo Jingnan , Köhler Jan , García César Martín , Mueller-Mellin Reinhold , Wimmer-Schweingruber Robert , Bridges John C. , McConnochie Timothy , Benna Mehdi , Franz Heather , Bower Hannah , Brunner Anna , Blau Hannah , Boucher Thomas , Carmosino Marco , Atreya Sushil , Elliott Harvey , Halleaux Douglas , Rennó Nilton , Wong Michael , Pepin Robert , Elliott Beverley , Spray John , Thompson Lucy , Gordon Suzanne , Ollila Ann , Williams Joshua , Vasconcelos Paulo , Bentz Jennifer , Nealson Kenneth , Popa Radu , Moersch Jeffrey , Tate Christopher , Day Mackenzie , Francis Raymond , McCullough Emily , Cloutis Ed , ten Kate Inge Loes , Scholes Daniel , Slavney Susan , Stein Thomas , Ward Jennifer , Berger Jeffrey , Moores John E. 
Published: December 2013

The Curiosity rover discovered fine-grained sedimentary rocks, which are inferred to represent an ancient lake and preserve evidence of an environment that would have been suited to support a martian biosphere founded on chemolithoautotrophy. This aqueous environment was characterized by neutral pH, low salinity, and variable redox states of both iron and sulfur species. Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphorus were measured directly as key biogenic elements; by inference, phosphorus is assumed to have been available. The environment probably had a minimum duration of hundreds to tens of thousands of years. These results highlight the biological viability of fluvial-lacustrine environments in the post-Noachian history of Mars.