A team of scientists has discovered evidence of an ancient beach on Mars, shedding new light on the planet’s past habitability. Data from China’s Zhurong rover suggests that Mars had oceans and sandy beaches 4 billion years ago, providing strong support for the idea that life could have existed there.
The discovery was made by analyzing ground-penetrating radar data, which revealed shallow sandy slopes about 33 feet beneath the Martian surface. These layers of sand are similar to those found on Earth’s beaches, suggesting that Mars once had an ocean that deposited sediment along its shoreline.
“This strengthens the case for past habitability in this region,” said Hai Liu, a professor at Guangzhou University. “The presence of these layers of sand suggests that Mars had an ocean for millions of years.”
The discovery was made inside Utopia Basin, the largest known impact crater in the solar system. Scientists had speculated that Utopia Basin might have once held an ancient ocean, and the Zhurong rover’s findings confirm this hypothesis.
While the beach itself would likely have eroded away over time, its existence provides a unique window into Mars’ past. The discovery suggests that life could have existed on Mars, although it’s unclear where or how it began.
The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and marks an exciting step forward in our understanding of Mars’ history and potential habitability.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/mars/ancient-beach-on-mars-discovered-by-chinas-zhurong-mars-rover-this-strengthens-the-case-for-past-habitability