Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have made a groundbreaking discovery that could potentially revolutionize our understanding of Mars. The Curiosity rover, which has been exploring the red planet’s surface since 2015, when it landed in Gale Crater along Mars’ equator, has uncovered evidence of an Earth-like environment on the planet.
The main goal of this mission is to determine the composition of the planet’s surface and whether it could potentially support life. After landing in the Gale Crater, scientists found a lot of evidence indicating the presence of flowing water, such as rivers flowing into lakes. The rocks around the crater suggest that a lake existed in the area for a long period of time. Images sent from the Curiosity rover reveal a vast field of manganese rocks, which are layered and flat – features that suggest they formed in lakes. In addition, these rocks contain clay minerals that can only form in water.
While water on Mars has long since disappeared, researchers believe it is possible for microbial life to persist on the planet. Patrick Gasda, a scientist at LANL, published their findings in the Journal of Geophysical Research, detailing the team’s observations while working with the Curiosity Rover. Each new image from Mars provides valuable insights and encourages further scientific research into the possibility of life on the red planet.