NASA faces challenges with astronauts stuck in space and diversity programs paused. However, new findings about ancient water on Mars offer hope. A study using imagery from the Curiosity rover suggests that red planet surfaces may have supported life billions of years ago.
The Caltech-led research discovered wave ripples on Mars, first spotted by Curiosity in 2022. These ripples, which appear as undulations in sandy lakebeds, indicate a warm, open body of water billions of years ago. This discovery supports the possibility that Mars once hosted microbial life.
The study estimates these ancient ripples formed around 3.7 billion years ago, when Mars was still a more hydrated world. This timing extends the potential for microbial habitability further into Mars’ history. The findings are significant as they challenge the current understanding of Mars’ geologically young state and open new avenues for future research.
Curiosity has been exploring Mars’ surface for over a decade, uncovering intriguing signs of ancient life, including sulfur deposits and features resembling dried-up riverbeds. Recent discoveries have led to exciting scientific discussions about what these findings mean for the red planet’s past.
Source: https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/mars-nasa-curiosity-rover-life-20055602.php