Latest news with #Curiosity
Economic Times
a day ago
- Science
- Economic Times
Mars secret revealed: The Red Planet's cracked skin may be hiding an ancient truth
NASA's Curiosity rover has captured the first-ever close-up images of spiderweb-like 'boxwork' formations on Mars, revealing new clues about the planet's ancient water systems. These intricate mineral ridges, buried for eons then revealed by Martian wind, suggest Mars once had underground liquid water. Found uniquely on Mount Sharp, they've stunned scientists and sparked new questions about the Red Planet's past climate—and whether it could once have supported microbial life in salt-rich, subsurface habitats. Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. More
Time of India
a day ago
- Science
- Time of India
Mars secret revealed: The Red Planet's cracked skin may be hiding an ancient truth
NASA's Curiosity rover has captured the first-ever close-up images of spiderweb-like 'boxwork' formations on Mars, revealing new clues about the planet's ancient water systems. These intricate mineral ridges, buried for eons then revealed by Martian wind, suggest Mars once had underground liquid water. Found uniquely on Mount Sharp, they've stunned scientists and sparked new questions about the Red Planet's past climate—and whether it could once have supported microbial life in salt-rich, subsurface habitats. Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein. More
Time of India
2 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA's Mars rover captures first close-up of bizarre 'spiderwebs' on the Red Planet
's Curiosity rover has captured the first-ever close-up images of strange, spiderweb-like rock formations on the surface of Mars. These formations offer new clues about the planet's ancient, watery past. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The mysterious zig-zagging structures, known as 'boxwork,' were discovered on the slopes of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater, where Curiosity has been exploring since 2012. These intricate mineral-rich ridges likely formed from ancient groundwater activity and resemble webs when viewed from above. Scientists hope these formations may hold vital clues about Mars' potential to support microbial life in the distant past. What are Martian "spiderwebs" that are captured by NASA? Despite their nickname, the spiderweb-like structures aren't made by Martian insects. They are geological features known as boxwork, a pattern of intersecting mineral ridges that form when groundwater seeps through cracks in rock, leaving behind mineral deposits. Over time, wind erosion removes the surrounding softer rock, revealing the hardened web-like framework underneath. A first in Martian exploration While boxwork formations have been seen from orbit, this marks the first time they've been examined up close on Mars. Curiosity reached the site in early June 2025 after months of navigating Mount Sharp. NASA released the images and a 3D interactive video of the formations on June 23, describing them as a top scientific priority due to their unique structure and unexplained location. What the rocks reveal about ancient Mars Analysis of the surrounding rocks shows veins of calcium sulfate, a salty mineral commonly left behind by groundwater. These findings suggest the area was once rich in liquid water, and the underground environment could have been warm and salty—potentially hospitable to microbial life, similar to some regions on early Earth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Not the first 'spiders' on Mars The newly imaged boxwork formations should not be confused with the so-called 'spiders on Mars' — dark, radial patterns caused by carbon dioxide ice erupting from beneath the surface. Unlike those seasonal features, boxwork is permanent and mineral-based, formed through geological—not atmospheric—processes. Could this mean Mars once supported life? Scientists believe these formations could help settle the debate over whether Mars once harbored life. The mineral composition, protected underground conditions, and evidence of flowing water all point to an environment that could have supported microbial organisms. As Kirsten Siebach, a Curiosity mission scientist, put it, 'Early Earth microbes could have survived in a similar environment.' What's next for Curiosity? Curiosity will continue studying this patch of boxwork on Mount Sharp, drilling samples and conducting in-depth chemical analysis. Researchers hope these unique structures will not only reveal more about Mars' climate history but also help guide future missions in the search for signs of life beneath the Martian surface.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Close-up images of The Red Planet's ridges from Mars Rover show ‘dramatic evidence' of water
Close-up images of a region of Mars scientists had previously only seen from orbit have revealed 'dramatic evidence' of where water once flowed on the Red Planet. The new images taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover raises fresh questions about how the Martian surface was changing billions of years ago. Mars once had rivers, lakes, and possibly an ocean, NASA said. Scientists aren't sure why the water eventually dried up, leading the planet to transform into the chilly desert it is today. Curiosity's images show evidence of ancient groundwater crisscrossing low ridges, arranged in what geologists call a boxwork pattern, the space agency said. 'By the time Curiosity's current location formed, the long-lived lakes were gone in Gale Crater, the rover's landing area, but water was still percolating under the surface,' NASA said in a news release. 'The rover found dramatic evidence of that groundwater when it encountered crisscrossing low ridges.' 'The bedrock below these ridges likely formed when groundwater trickling through the rock left behind minerals that accumulated in those cracks and fissures, hardening and becoming cementlike,' the release continued. 'Eons of sandblasting by Martian wind wore away the rock but not the minerals, revealing networks of resistant ridges within.' The rover has been exploring the planet's Mount Sharp since 2014, where the boxwork patterns have been found. Curiosity essentially 'time travels' as it ascends from the oldest to youngest layers, searching for signs of water and environments that could have supported ancient microbial life, NASA explained. 'A big mystery is why the ridges were hardened into these big patterns and why only here,' Curiosity's project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada, said. 'As we drive on, we'll be studying the ridges and mineral cements to make sure our idea of how they formed is on target.' In another clue, scientists observed that the ridges have small fractures filled with the salty mineral calcium sulfate, left behind by groundwater. Curiosity's deputy project scientist, Abigail Fraeman, said it was a 'really surprising' discovery. 'These calcium sulfate veins used to be everywhere, but they more or less disappeared as we climbed higher up Mount Sharp,' Fraeman said. 'The team is excited to figure out why they've returned now.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
First close-up images of Mars ridges show "dramatic evidence" of water
NASA's Curiosity rover has captured the first close-up images of a part of Mars that scientists say provide evidence of how water once flowed on the red planet. There were once rivers, lakes and possibly an ocean on Mars, but they eventually dried up and the planet became the desert it is currently, according to NASA. The new images by Curiosity show "dramatic evidence" of ancient groundwater in crisscrossing low ridges, arranged in "a boxwork pattern," stretching across miles of a mountain on Mars, the space agency said. "The bedrock below these ridges likely formed when groundwater trickling through the rock left behind minerals that accumulated in those cracks and fissures, hardening and becoming cementlike," NASA said in a news release. The ridges look like spiderweb patterns from space and had previously only been observed from orbit, NASA said. "A big mystery is why the ridges were hardened into these big patterns and why only here," Curiosity's project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada, said. "As we drive on, we'll be studying the ridges and mineral cements to make sure our idea of how they formed is on target." The ridges have small fractures filled with calcium sulfate, left behind by groundwater, which had not been found before in this part of Mount Sharp, the 3-mile-tall mountain Curiosity is currently climbing, NASA said. "That's really surprising," said Curiosity's deputy project scientist, Abigail Fraeman. "These calcium sulfate veins used to be everywhere, but they more or less disappeared as we climbed higher up Mount Sharp. The team is excited to figure out why they've returned now." Curiosity landed in the planet's Gale Crater in 2012. It has been climbing the foothills of Mount Sharp since 2014, searching for signs of environments that could have supported life, according to NASA. Former U.S. ambassador to Israel says Israel-Iran ceasefire has good chance of holding Fed Chair Powell says economy is in a solid position despite uncertainty What to know about Trump plans for future Iran negotiations, NATO defense spending agreement
