NASA scientists have discovered evidence that ancient lakes on Mars were once exposed to air, challenging a long-held theory about the planet’s climate. The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest that not all water on Mars was buried under ice, as some models predict. Instead, liquid water flowed across the surface at some point in its history, forming unique “wave ripples” along lakebeds.
The ripples were detected by NASA’s Curiosity rover in two separate lakebeds in Gale Crater and are about 0.2 inches tall with waves spaced 1.6 to 2 inches apart. The researchers believe the Martian lakes were less than 2 meters deep, indicating that Mars had a more hospitable climate for liquid water longer than previously thought.
The discovery could have significant implications for the search for life on Mars. If liquid water was present for longer periods, it could have allowed organisms to evolve and potentially thrive on the planet. The finding is based on the analysis of ripple wave patterns, which were formed under water exposed to air and wind.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasa-rover-discovers-liquid-water-120000337.html