NASA researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery on the Red Planet by analyzing data from a massive meteoroid strike that triggered a “marsquake” – a seismic event detected on Mars. The team used a machine learning algorithm and artificial intelligence to study the impact crater, which shook material as deep as the Martian mantle.
The researchers found that the energy from the quakes traveled through a previously unknown “seismic highway” in the mantle, allowing it to reach distant regions of the planet. This discovery challenges existing models of Mars’ interior and suggests that seismic impacts could be responsible for some of the activity detected at Cerberus Fossae – a region thought to produce high-frequency seismic signals.
The study used data collected by NASA’s InSight lander, which launched in 2018 and retired in 2022. The team analyzed images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to identify impact craters near the InSight location. By comparing data from the lander with crater locations, they found a correlation between the two – evidence that the quakes were triggered by space rocks hitting Mars.
The discovery was made possible by the use of machine learning algorithms, which saved researchers years of manual work. The team’s findings offer new insights into the Red Planet’s crust and core, shedding light on the mysteries of Martian seismology.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/space/meteoroid-strike-mars-quake-nasa-b2691678.html