Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery about Mars’ past with the help of China’s Zhurong rover. Researchers found evidence of ancient oceans and sandy beaches on the red planet, which is a stark contrast to its harsh, arid conditions today.
Data from the Zhurong rover revealed buried beaches in the northern lowlands of Mars, similar to those found on Earth using ground-penetrating radar. This suggests that there were tides, waves, and a nearby river supplying sediment to create these environments.
The discovery confirms long-debated theories about Mars’ watery past, with previous findings indicating flowing rivers, lakes, and even liquid water beneath the surface today. The finding of ancient beaches also provides a potential habitat for life, according to Dr. Benjamin Cardenas, co-author of the research from Penn State University.
“A beach is an interface between shallow water, air, and land,” said Cardenas. “It’s these sorts of environments where it’s thought life first came to be on Earth.”
Source: https://www.engadget.com/science/space/new-evidence-suggests-that-mars-used-to-have-an-ocean-and-sandy-beaches-181146248.html