NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered a “coral-like” rock on Mars that suggests water once existed on the planet. The small, 1-inch-wide light-colored rock was found in the Gale Crater and resembles coral typically found at the bottom of oceans.
The discovery was made using the Curiosity’s Remote Micro Imager camera and is not the first of its kind to be found. Similar objects have been captured by the same camera in the past, indicating a watery past on Mars.
According to NASA, these rocks formed when liquid water carried dissolved minerals into rock cracks and later dried, leaving hardened minerals behind. This process has produced unique shapes on Mars, including flower-shaped rocks.
The finding gives hope that life might have existed on Mars after all. The Curiosity rover has made several significant discoveries this summer, including images of “spiderweb” geological structures, which also indicate ancient water on Mars.
NASA says the Martian surface once had rivers, lakes, and possibly an ocean, but its water eventually dried up. However, underground water continued to exist, creating changes that can still be seen today. The discovery highlights the complex history of Mars and the importance of studying its past to understand its present.
Source: https://nypost.com/2025/08/07/science/coral-rocks-found-on-mars-by-nasas-curiosity-rover