The mysterious dark and light streaks on Olympus Mons, the largest volcano on Mars, have long been a topic of speculation among scientists. Recently, new research published in Nature Communications has provided an answer to this puzzle.
Using machine-learning algorithms to scan over 86,000 satellite images from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, researchers created a map of 500,000 streaks across the Martian surface. The findings suggest that these streaks are not signs of flowing water or life but rather dry, fine dust debris.
The phenomenon is thought to occur when layers of fine dust suddenly slide off steep terrain, creating the streaks. This conclusion is supported by the fact that no evidence of water was found in the research.
NASA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter recently captured a stunning image of these streaks, which has been slightly modified to enhance their appearance. The European Space Agency has made this image available for public viewing.
The discovery sheds new light on the geological processes that shape Mars and provides insights into the planet’s complex surface features.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/05/tuesday-telescope-finally-some-answers-on-those-martian-streaks