A recent study by planetary scientists has cast doubt on the possibility of water flow on present-day Mars, using machine learning to analyze a massive dataset of slope streak features. The research suggests that these streaks are likely caused by dry processes such as wind and dust activity, rather than liquid flows.
The feature, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL), has been a topic of interest among scientists for years, with some interpreting them as evidence of habitable environments on the Red Planet. However, this new study finds no correlation between RSLs and factors that suggest a liquid origin, such as high surface temperature fluctuations or humidity.
Instead, the researchers found that both slope streaks and RSLs are more likely to form in areas with above-average wind speed and dust deposition, which point to a dry origin. The team concluded that these features most likely form when layers of fine dust suddenly slide off steep slopes, triggered by shockwaves from recent impact craters.
The study’s results have significant implications for future Mars exploration, as they suggest that the contamination risk at slope streak sites is relatively low. This approach allows scientists to rule out hypotheses from orbit before sending spacecraft to explore, making it a valuable tool in searching for life on Mars.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-05-streaked-slopes-mars.html