NASA Curiosity rover discovers coral-like flower-shaped rocks on Mars
On July 24, the rover sent images of a wind-eroded rock about one inch wide, resembling a piece of a coral reef.
NASA has said that the rover has taken many images of rocks of this type. The space agency noted that when liquid water still existed on the planet, it carried dissolved minerals into the cracks of rocks. When the liquid dried, it deposited hardened minerals.
'This common process, seen extensively on Earth, has produced fantastic shapes on Mars, including a flower-shaped rock,' the agency said in a statement.
NASA noted that the 'unique shapes' seen today came to be after billions of years of sandblasting.
A uniquely shaped rock nicknamed 'Paposo' was also found on July 24. Similarly, another rock shaped like a flower was discovered in 2022.
According to NASA, the flower rock is believed to have formed as mineralizing liquids went through conduits in the rock.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory built the rover, which is leading its Mars mission.
After travelling for eight months and 352 million miles, the rover landed on Mars in 2012. NASA noted that it was the largest and most capable rover ever sent to Mars at the time.
The rover has explored as much as 22 miles of the planet and previously found chemical and mineral evidence of previous habitable environments.
According to NASA, the rover is continuing to gather samples and data from a time when Mars may have hosted microbial life.
The one-inch rock was found in the Gale Crater, an impact basin. In June, Curiosity took images of a geological structure called 'spiderwebs' because of its pattern of ridges, also indicating that Mars previously had water that has since hardened.
'The images and data being collected are already raising new questions about how the Martian surface was changing billions of years ago,' NASA said in a June statement.
'The Red Planet once had rivers, lakes, and possibly an ocean. Although scientists aren't sure why, its water eventually dried up and the planet transformed into the chilly desert it is today,' the agency added. 'Remarkably, the boxwork patterns show that even in the midst of this drying, water was still present underground, creating changes seen today.'
'Eons of sandblasting by Martian wind wore away the rock but not the minerals, revealing networks of resistant ridges within,' said the agency.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
43 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Tiny fireball that crashed into Georgia home is 4.56bn-year-old meteorite, say experts
A cherry tomato-sized fireball that crashed through the roof of a metro Atlanta house in June was a meteorite 20m years older than Earth, a scientist has determined. In a news release on Friday, University of Georgia planetary geologist Scott Harris said that he arrived at that conclusion after examining 23 grams of fragments from a meteorite that were provided to him after the space rock pierced a man's home and dented its floor in the Henry county community of McDonough. Harris subsequently looked at the fragments under microscopes and established that they came from a meteorite which formed 4.56bn years earlier. Experts estimate the Earth is roughly 4.54bn years old. 'This particular meteor that entered the atmosphere has a long history before it made it to the ground of McDonough,' Harris said in the news release. He explained the space rock belonged to a group of asteroids 'in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470m years ago'. According to Harris, the homeowner reported to him that he has continued finding space dust specks around his living room from the asteroid strike. Harris said he, his fellow University of Georgia scientists and colleagues at Arizona State University intend to submit their findings to the Meteorological Society's nomenclature committee, which oversees naming new meteorites. Harris said his team has proposed to name its subject the McDonough Meteorite. The University of Georgia said the meteorite studied by Harris and his colleagues was the 27th recovered in the history of the state, which was founded in 1788. It was among six meteorites in that group whose fall was witnessed. 'This is something that used to be expected once every few decades and not multiple times' in a relatively short time as has been the case, Harris said. 'Modern technology in addition to an attentive public is going to help us recover more and more meteorites.' Analyzing such space rocks is crucial for understanding the possible threat of much larger, more perilous asteroids, Harris added. 'One day there will be an opportunity, and we never know when it's going to be, for something large to hit and create a catastrophic situation,' Harris remarked. 'If we can guard against that, we want to.' With respect to the case seen in McDonough, the meteorite hurtled to the ground at about 12.30pm, emitting a boom and rattling houses across Atlanta, officials said. Images and video of the fiery fireball – reportedly visible from North and South Carolina – spread quickly. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion The US's National Weather Service didn't initially recognize what had happened because the fireball resembled lightning on the agency's global lightning mapper, an official said at the time. Yet local emergency management director Ryan Morrison said officials began suspecting a meteorite when it became clear the fireball had punched through a home's roof and cracked through the laminate flooring to the concrete. The affected homeowner requested that the government withhold their identity because they have a small child, Morrison has said.
Geeky Gadgets
2 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Volumetric 3D Printing Creates Objects Faster Than Brewing Coffee
What if you could create a fully-formed, intricately detailed 3D object in the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee? It sounds like science fiction, but with volumetric 3D printing, this is now a reality. Unlike traditional 3D printing methods that painstakingly build objects layer by layer, volumetric printing uses light and resin to construct entire structures in mere seconds. This breakthrough isn't just about speed—it's about transforming how we think about manufacturing, customization, and even repair. Imagine industries where prototypes are ready almost instantly, or where intricate medical devices can be produced on demand with microscopic precision. The implications are staggering, and they're only just beginning to unfold. In this overview Action Lab explain how volumetric 3D printing is rewriting the rules of additive manufacturing. You'll discover the ingenious science behind this layer-free construction, the unique advantages it offers over conventional methods, and the challenges that still lie ahead. From its ability to create seamless, highly detailed objects to its potential for transforming industries like healthcare and aerospace, this technology is more than just fast—it's a glimpse into the future of production. As we unpack its possibilities and limitations, one question lingers: could this be the tipping point that redefines how we make and design everything? Volumetric 3D Printing Overview The Science Behind Volumetric 3D Printing Volumetric 3D printing is powered by computed axial lithography, a process inspired by tomographic reconstruction, a technique widely used in medical imaging such as CT scans. This advanced method adapts the principles of imaging to manufacturing, allowing the creation of intricate 3D objects with remarkable speed and accuracy. Here's how it works: A projector emits carefully calibrated light patterns into a rotating vial filled with a specially formulated resin. These light patterns intersect at precise points within the resin, causing it to solidify and form a 3D object in a single step. The resin is engineered to harden only when exposed to a specific intensity of light, making sure that only the desired structure solidifies while the surrounding material remains unaffected. This process eliminates the need for layering, a hallmark of traditional 3D printing, and instead creates objects as cohesive, unified structures. By using the principles of tomographic reconstruction, volumetric 3D printing achieves a level of speed and precision that sets it apart from conventional methods. Key Advantages of Volumetric 3D Printing Volumetric 3D printing offers a range of benefits that make it a standout technology in the field of additive manufacturing. These advantages include: Layer-Free Construction: Traditional 3D printing relies on layering, which can result in visible striations and weaker structural integrity. Volumetric printing forms objects as a single, cohesive unit, producing smoother surfaces and stronger components. Traditional 3D printing relies on layering, which can result in visible striations and weaker structural integrity. Volumetric printing forms objects as a single, cohesive unit, producing smoother surfaces and stronger components. Enhanced Customization: This technology allows for overprinting, allowing you to add features or repair existing objects without starting from scratch. For example, you can enhance a pre-printed part with additional details or fix damaged components, making it ideal for industries requiring iterative design or customization. This technology allows for overprinting, allowing you to add features or repair existing objects without starting from scratch. For example, you can enhance a pre-printed part with additional details or fix damaged components, making it ideal for industries requiring iterative design or customization. Microscopic Detail: Volumetric printing excels at creating intricate, microscopic structures that are challenging to achieve with traditional methods. This capability opens up new possibilities for applications in fields such as healthcare, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. Volumetric printing excels at creating intricate, microscopic structures that are challenging to achieve with traditional methods. This capability opens up new possibilities for applications in fields such as healthcare, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. Time Efficiency: By forming entire objects in seconds, volumetric 3D printing significantly reduces production times, making it a valuable tool for industries that demand rapid prototyping and high-speed manufacturing. These advantages position volumetric 3D printing as a fantastic technology with the potential to redefine how objects are designed and produced. What Is Volumetric 3D Printing? Watch this video on YouTube. Unlock more potential in 3D printing by reading previous articles we have written. The Role of Specialized Resin The success of volumetric 3D printing is closely tied to the development of advanced resin materials. Unlike standard resins, which harden inconsistently and absorb light unevenly, the resin used in volumetric printing is specifically engineered to solidify only when exposed to a precise intensity of light. This ensures that the desired structure forms accurately while the surrounding material remains unaffected and reusable. Standard resins are unsuitable for this process due to their inability to meet the stringent reactivity thresholds required for volumetric printing. The specialized resin overcomes these limitations, allowing the creation of complex, high-fidelity structures that were previously unattainable. This advancement in resin technology is a critical factor in the success and future potential of volumetric 3D printing. Challenges and Future Prospects Despite its numerous advantages, volumetric 3D printing faces several challenges that must be addressed to achieve widespread adoption. These include: High Material Costs: The development and production of specialized resin materials remain expensive, posing a barrier to broader use. The development and production of specialized resin materials remain expensive, posing a barrier to broader use. Complex Equipment: The machinery required for precise light projection and resin rotation is intricate and costly, adding to the overall complexity of the technology. The machinery required for precise light projection and resin rotation is intricate and costly, adding to the overall complexity of the technology. Limited Accessibility: The current reliance on proprietary systems and materials restricts the availability of volumetric 3D printing to a select group of users. Researchers and industry leaders are actively working to overcome these obstacles. Efforts include developing cost-effective resin formulations, simplifying equipment design, and exploring open source solutions to provide widespread access to access to the technology. As these advancements progress, volumetric 3D printing is poised to play a fantastic role in industries such as aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing. By addressing these challenges, volumetric 3D printing has the potential to unlock new possibilities for innovation and efficiency across a wide range of applications. Its ability to produce highly detailed, customized objects at unprecedented speeds makes it a promising solution for the demands of modern manufacturing. Media Credit: The Action Lab Filed Under: Technology News, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Nasa discovery ‘raise new questions' about Mars
Nasa 's Curiosity Rover has captured images of coral-like and flower-shaped rocks on Mars, estimated to be billions of years old. On 24 July, the rover sent images of a one-inch wind-eroded rock resembling a piece of coral, found in the Gale Crater, which Nasa said 'are already raising new questions about how the Martian surface was changing billions of years ago'. NASA explains these unique formations resulted from liquid water depositing hardened minerals in rock cracks as it dried up billions of years ago. The distinctive shapes are now visible due to eons of sandblasting by Martian wind, which wore away softer rock but left resistant minerals. The Curiosity Rover, which landed in 2012, continues to gather data and has found evidence of past habitable environments and potential microbial life on Mars.
