A new study based on data from the Perseverance rover reveals the existence of an ancient river system buried beneath the surface of Mars. This major discovery, published in the journal Science Advances, reinforces the hypothesis of a planet that was once rich in water.
The observations were made in Jezero Crater, a 45-kilometer-diameter area located in the northern hemisphere of Mars. Scientists believe that this site once contained a river-fed lake about 3,6 billion years ago, when Mars had characteristics similar to those of Earth.
A potentially life-sustaining environment
Thanks to the RIMFAX instrument, capable of probing the subsurface, researchers have identified geological structures typical of a fluvio-deltaic system. The past presence of liquid water is a key clue, as it is essential for the emergence of life.
Since its arrival on Mars in February 2021, Perseverance has continued its mission: to analyze the past of the Red Planet and search for traces of possible ancient life. This new discovery represents a significant step forward in understanding Martian history, even though NASA recently abandoned the plan to return the collected samples to Earth.
Community
Comments
Comments are open, but protected against spam. Initial posts and comments containing links undergo manual review.
Be the first to comment on this article.