NASA’s Perseverance mission has made a groundbreaking discovery at the rim of Jezero crater on Mars, uncovering a rock full of dark, millimeter-sized spheres that are unlike anything seen before on the planet. The spheres, nicknamed “Martian Blueberries,” vary in shape and feature miniature pinholes, sparking debate among scientists about their formation.
The rock, named “St. Pauls Bay,” was found on the lower slopes of Witch Hazel Hill, an area known for layered materials from Mars’ wetter, ancient past. Similar spherules were previously discovered by the Opportunity rover in 2004 and by Curiosity in 2013, hinting at a recurring Martian puzzle.
Scientists believe that the spheres could have formed as concretions, structures that grow over time through interaction with groundwater, offering signs of past moisture. Alternatively, they may have resulted from volcanic activity or meteorite impacts, formed as droplets of molten rock cooled rapidly in Mars’ thin atmosphere.
The discovery provides a rare, direct look at Martian geological processes and how Mars’ ancient environments could have supported water flow. The unusual textures on the spheres, including tiny pinholes and broken fragments, suggest complex formation conditions that are still being analyzed by the Perseverance team.
This latest find adds to the Perseverance mission’s growing catalog of Martian anomalies, each one a piece of the puzzle about Mars’ watery past and potential for ancient life.
Source: https://www.businesstoday.in/visualstories/news/are-those-blueberries-or-eggs-mars-yields-new-spherules-with-pinholes-and-fractures-223088-06-04-2025