Scientists have discovered evidence of ancient beaches on Mars, providing the clearest proof yet that the planet once had a significant body of water and a more habitable environment for life. A team of researchers used data from the Zhurong Mars rover to identify hidden layers of rock under the surface that suggest the presence of an ancient northern ocean.
The team found formations called “foreshore deposits” in the Martian soil, which slope downwards towards oceans and form when sediments are carried by tides and waves into a large body of water. This discovery is significant because it suggests that Mars was once wetter than it is today and provides new information on the evolution of the Martian environment.
The researchers compared the Martian data with radar images of coastal deposits on Earth, finding striking similarities between the two. The dip angles observed on Mars fell within the range seen in coastal sedimentary deposits on Earth, ruling out other possible origins for the formations.
The study suggests that a life-friendly warm and wet period spanned potentially tens of millions of years on Mars. The capabilities of the Zhurong rover have allowed scientists to understand the geologic history of the planet in an entirely new way, providing valuable insights into the potential habitability of Mars.
This discovery is a major breakthrough in the search for life beyond Earth and provides new evidence for the possibility of past life on Mars.
Source: https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/gulf-mars-rover-finds-evidence-vacation-style-beaches-mars