Articles tagged with Mars
Researchers have discovered rare spring deposits and playa formations on Mars that point to the presence of a hydrological cycle and groundwater upwelling. These findings support the idea that conditions on Mars could have been conducive to microbial colonization.
Researchers create detailed digital terrain models of Hawaiian lava flows using a kite-mounted camera and GPS system. The models reveal complex patterns of lava movement and challenge current interpretations of Martian surface features.
Scientists have estimated that Mars once had a massive ocean covering 19% of its surface, which would have made the planet habitable for longer. The new research uses detailed observations of water in Mars' atmosphere to determine the amount of water lost over time.
The Curiosity robot has confirmed an episodic increase in methane concentration in Mars' atmosphere, which may indicate the presence of biological activity. The detection is based on detailed analysis of data collected during 605 Martian days and is attributed to the tunable laser spectrometer in the SAM instrument.
Researchers found that flash-heating experiments using NASA's Curiosity Rover instrument can destroy organic compounds if jarosite is present. This could impact the search for signs of life on Mars. The team is exploring ways to compensate for this effect, which has implications for future missions like ExoMars 2018.
Researchers have detected a mysterious high plume on Mars, extending horizontally about 500 km and reaching an exceptional altitude of 200-250 km above the planet's surface. The team used images from amateur astronomers and spacecraft to analyze the phenomenon, exploring possible scenarios such as cloud or auroral emission.
A new study suggests that a meteorite found in the Moroccan desert may be representative of the 'bulk background' of rocks on Mars. The meteorite's chemical makeup matches that of rocks analyzed by Mars rovers, indicating that it is a piece of Martian crust.
A massive celestial object impacted Mars, generating a magma ocean that solidified into the mountainous highlands of the southern hemisphere. This event, occurring around 4-15 million years after Mars' formation, is believed to have triggered volcanic activity and changed the planet's magnetic field.
Researchers from Brown University found new evidence of glacier-like ice deposits advancing and retreating multiple times in Mars' midlatitudes, suggesting recent climate cycles. The study suggests that the planet's wobbly rotation around its axis may have driven these ice ages.
Four groundbreaking science books that present scientific information in innovative ways to young audiences have earned the 2015 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize. The winning books include 'Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes' and 'Mission: Mars', which invite readers to explore their own world or prepare themselves to explore other worlds.
Scientists have discovered distinctive sounds associated with iceberg births, which can help detect different types of glacial loss. Underground water reserves in Hawaii's high country could be a source of geothermal energy. Researchers on Mars have found 'knobby terrain' that suggests explosive past volcanic eruptions.
The UK-led Beagle 2 Mars Lander has been found on the Martian surface, ending the mystery of its disappearance in 2003. The lander's partial deployment confirms that it successfully touched down on Mars on Christmas Day 2003.
A recent study published in AJCN found that consuming cocoa flavanols can improve cognitive function in individuals aged 61-85 years. The researchers observed significant improvements in overall cognitive function after only eight weeks of regular consumption.
A new study suggests that water is bound to sulfates in Martian soil, a key finding with implications for the search for life on Mars. The research team analyzed elemental data from the Gamma Ray Spectrometer onboard the Mars Odyssey orbiter and found a spatial association between sulfur and hydrogen in the southern latitudes of Mars.
A new study of the ALH84001 Martian meteorite provides valuable insights into Mars' early climate and potential habitability. The analysis suggests that smaller seas existed on Mars billions of years ago, rather than vast oceans.
Researchers from Russia and international partners map water vapor distribution on Mars, revealing seasonal variations and global sandstorm impacts. Water vapor concentrations peak at 60-70 microns during northern summer, decreasing significantly during sandstorms.
Scientists have made the first definitive detection of organic molecules at Mars using NASA's Curiosity rover. The discovery suggests that ancient Martian environments may have provided a supply of reduced organic molecules for use as building blocks for life and an energy source.
The MAVEN mission has made groundbreaking discoveries about the loss of Mars' atmosphere to space over time. The spacecraft has detected a stream of solar-wind particles that penetrate deep into the planet's upper atmosphere and ionosphere, revealing a new process by which atmospheric loss occurs.
The Curiosity rover has taken samples of Martian rocks and soils using the CheMin instrument, which has provided insights into processes on Mars. The analysis reveals a complex mineralogy, including aqueous alteration and hydrated sulphates.
A new study suggests that organic carbon traces found in a Martian meteorite may have originated from biological sources. The researchers argue that the carbon content was deposited in the meteorite's fissures before it left Mars, and its isotopic ratio is consistent with biological origin.
Scientists found that ancient rivers, streams, and lakes on Mars were likely formed during brief periods of volcanic activity, warming the planet enough for water to flow. This challenges previous climate models suggesting a cold and ice-covered world, instead proposing a more complex history with episodic heating and melting.
A new study by McGill University and UCL finds that Mars experiences a transitional 'macroweather' regime between weather and climate. The sun plays a major role in determining macroweather on Mars, with temperature and wind fluctuations occurring over 1.8 Martian days.
Two NASA and European spacecraft have gathered data about Comet Siding Spring's effects on Mars' atmosphere, detecting an intense meteor shower and a new layer of ions. The comet's debris added significant but temporary changes to the planet's upper atmosphere.
A new paper by University of New Hampshire scientists warns that cosmic rays pose a significant threat to future manned deep-space exploration. The study finds that extremely low densities and magnetic field strengths in the solar wind create hazardous radiation levels that limit allowable days for astronauts behind spacecraft shielding.
The MAVEN spacecraft successfully navigated a close pass by comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring, providing valuable insights into the Red Planet's upper atmosphere and interaction with the solar wind. The mission will continue to study Mars' atmosphere and its effects on the planet's geology.
Nathaniel Putzig, a senior research scientist at SwRI, has been awarded the NASA Planetary Science Early Career Fellowship for his work on detecting ground ice within sand dunes across the southern hemisphere of Mars. The grant will support his research project using morphologic and thermal data.
The mission has provided unprecedented ultraviolet images of the tenuous oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon coronas surrounding Mars. Scientists also made a comprehensive map of highly variable ozone in the Martian atmosphere underlying the coronas.
A team of MIT researchers assessed the Mars One mission's technical feasibility, highlighting the need for new technologies to keep humans alive on Mars. The study found that a system to remove excess oxygen and more advanced water extraction methods are required, among other innovations.
Dr. Paul Mahaffy, a leading expert on Mars chemistry, received the John C. Lindsay Memorial Award for his groundbreaking work on the Curiosity Rover's Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite. The award honors his contributions to planetary science and exploration.
A Washington State University undergraduate has developed a new method for detecting water on Mars using an index called groundmass crystallinity. This method could potentially be useful for not only studying rocks on Earth but also on other planets.
Scientists have found a 'cell-like' structure in a Martian meteorite that once held water, providing further evidence for the possibility of life on Mars. The discovery, published in Astrobiology, suggests that beneath the surface, Mars provides conditions for life to have formed and evolved.
Researchers at Florida State University analyzed an ancient Martian meteorite to determine the Red Planet's climate history. The team found evidence of a dramatic climate shift dating back 4.4 billion years, suggesting Mars has been cold and dry for at least 1.7 billion years.
A team led by University of Oregon geologist Gregory Retallack analyzed Curiosity rover images and data to discover Earth-like soil profiles with cracked surfaces lined with sulfate. This finding suggests that Mars may have had a more habitable climate in the past, increasing the possibility of microbial life.
A 25-year-long study reveals that ants can accelerate mineral decay, which may help geoengineer accelerated CO2 consumption. The researchers suggest that understanding ant-mineral interactions could offer a solution to sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere.
Researchers found that Martian salts can melt ice they touch, forming liquid water within minutes. The discovery suggests small amounts of liquid water could exist across large swaths of Mars' surface, potentially supporting microbial life.
Researchers confirm global picture of cold and wet Martian environment, with evidence of concave basins, lobated structures, and moraines. Ancient glaciers covered vast regions of the planet's surface, including Gale crater.
Creating and optimizing food for astronauts, soldiers, and individuals in extreme conditions is crucial. Researchers are working on developing lighter, tastier, and more nutritious prepackaged foods with longer shelf life to meet the needs of six-person crews on Mars missions.
French and Russian scientists have identified two types of dust particles in the Martian atmosphere, contradicting previously obtained data on supersaturated steam formation. The coarser mode consists of larger ice grains, while the finer mode is an aerosol with tiny particles that play a key role in climate formation.
Comet Siding Spring is producing about 2 billion water molecules per second, equivalent to filling an Olympic-size pool in 14 hours. The icy nucleus is estimated to be around 2,300 feet across, placing it at the lower end of a size range.
A Martian volcano, Arsia Mons, may have supported one of the most recent habitable environments on the Red Planet. Researchers found evidence of englacial lakes and volcanic lava flows that could have created a liquid water environment suitable for microbial life. The discovery is significant as it suggests that such environments may h...
Researchers have found microbes create an environment that allows stevensite to form, raising new questions about the Martian deposits and their possible links to life on Mars. Microbialites are the earliest large-scale evidence of life on Earth, demonstrating how microscopic organisms join together to build enormous structures.
The Solar Wind Ion Analyzer will measure solar wind ions and density to understand Mars' atmospheric loss. Scientists believe interactions between solar wind ions and Martian particles are key to escape, leading to a barren planet.
Researchers found that lava flows, not water, carved the massive Noctis Labyrinthus and Valles Marineris canyons on Mars. The study suggests that there was less water on Mars than previously thought, making life on the planet less likely.
Recent NASA studies found that spore-forming bacteria like Bacillus pumilus can survive in space for up to 18 months, surviving harsh conditions including UV radiation and extreme temperatures. These hardy organisms may be able to carry life between planets via lithopanspermia.
Researchers analyzed 40 Martian meteorites to understand the evolution of Mars' atmosphere, shedding light on whether life existed or could have existed on the red planet. The study found that the atmospheres of Mars and Earth diverged early in the solar system's history, with sulfur playing a key role in shaping the Martian environment.
A new analysis by ASU scientist Steve Ruff suggests that Lake Gusev on Mars once held a lake, with evidence of low-temperature surface waters introducing carbonates into rocks. The discovery sheds light on the crater's geological history and potential astrobiological significance.
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of Mars-bound comet Siding Spring, revealing two jets of dust emanating from the nucleus. This observation will help astronomers determine the direction of the nucleus's pole and axis of rotation.
Researchers have designed a vacuum chamber to mimic Martian conditions, testing instruments and addressing challenges like dust. The goal is to better understand the habitability of other planets.
Researchers have uncovered new seismic data for the Slate Range in California, revealing a change in faulting style around four million years ago. In another study, scientists linked zircon ages to oxygen isotopic correlations between two tephra deposits in the southwestern United States.
IceBridge began its 2014 Arctic campaign with two sea ice surveys north of Greenland, focusing on changes in sea ice elevation and thickness. The mission aims to collect more data, including cross-basin surveys over the Arctic Ocean and flights over the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
Researchers found distinct spectral signatures of ferric and ferrous minerals at most RSL sites, suggesting a possible connection to water. However, the lack of water-related absorptions rules out hydrated salts as a dominant phase on RSL slopes.
Lorena Moscardelli presents a terrestrial, deep-water analogy to support the existence of an ancient Martian ocean. She documents boulder-size rocks on Mars' northern plains that are similar to blocks transported by subaqueous mass-transport events in Earth's deep water environments.
The MAVEN spacecraft has completed its initial checkout and is now ready to carry out its full science mission. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission aims to determine the role of gas escape in changing Mars' climate throughout its history.
The CSIRO Australia-led research reveals the oldest minerals ever analyzed by NASA's Mars Opportunity Rover show evidence of liquid water on Mars around 4 billion years ago. The discovery suggests that past water activity may have created livable mud, increasing the chances of life on Mars.
The Opportunity rover has discovered evidence of conditions that support the chemistry of life in Mars' past, earning a spot in Science magazine. The 10-year-old rover explored Martian geology and environmental processes, searching for signs of habitability and life.
Researchers suggest that megafloods created the unique amphitheater-headed canyons in Idaho and on Mars, replacing traditional theories of groundwater sapping. The team analyzed rock samples and scour marks to support their claims, pointing to much larger water discharges and shorter flow durations.
Researchers at California Institute of Technology successfully dated a Martian rock using the Sample Analysis on Mars instrument, determining its age to be about 3.86-4.56 billion years old. This experiment provides valuable insights into Mars' geologic history and aids in searching for evidence of ancient life on the planet.
Researchers from NASA's Curiosity rover mission found evidence of a calm and fresh-watered lake on Mars that may have supported simple microbial life. The team believes the lake may have lasted for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, providing perfect conditions for chemolithoautotrophs to thrive.
The Radiation Assessment Detector measured radiation on Mars' surface, revealing an average GCR dose equivalent rate of 0.67 millisieverts per day. The findings also show that most mission radiation exposure will occur during outbound and return travel, posing a challenge for future human exploration.
Three mass spectrometers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center conducted simultaneous experiments on the moon and Mars to analyze atmospheric and rock samples. This milestone demonstrates the value of these instruments for understanding planetary environments.