Mars rover technology tested out on West Highland rocks
Technology which will be used in the search for evidence of life on Mars has been tested in the Scottish Highlands.The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to send a robotic rover to the Red Planet to study its geology - and look for fossils and minerals.A University of St Andrews team has been testing equipment in Lower Diabaig, in Torridon, where there are rocks that are billions of years old and similar to those found on Mars.The trials have included of cameras of the type to be used as the rover's "eyes", and kit that can detect ancient biology preserved in the rock.
The ExoMars programme comprises two missions.The first, called Trace Gas Orbiter, was launched in 2016 while the second has a target launch of 2028, and aims to land the rover on the planet.The robot is named after London-born scientist Rosalind Franklin, who died in 1958.ESA said the missions would tackle the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars.
Dr Claire Cousins of the University of St Andrews said mission technology needed rigorous testing on Earth to make sure it would work on the red planet.She said the rare geology around Lower Diabaig was "ideal" as a testbed.She told BBC Scotland's Landward programme: "The rocks haven't metamorphosed right, they haven't been cooked and squeezed and crushed under mountain belts."They have been beautifully preserved - a slice of time."The rocks include billion-year-old mudstone and other rocks which are stacked one on top of the other in layers.Dr Cousins said: "These are perfect for showing us there was once liquid water - a habitable environment for life."Also, these rocks are very good at capturing evidence of that ancient past biology. It's sandwiched between the rocks."She added: "We don't know yet if there was ever life on Mars, but these are the kinds of rocks that are going to preserve it."
Seven years ago a Nasa Mars rover, Curiosity, explored a part of the planet named after Torridon.Martian geological areas and features have been named by Nasa after places on Earth.Several of the names were taken from Scotland and, as well as Torridon, there is a Siccar Point, Muck, Wick, Sandwick and Holyrood on Mars.Nasa chose the name Torridon due to the Torridonian Supergroup, a geological formation in the north-west Highlands that contains some of the oldest evidence of life of any rocks in the UK.In 2012, Glenelg held a celebration in honour of a location on Mars being named after the small Highland community.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
15 hours ago
- The Independent
Thunderstorms set to bring warm weather to a halt
The Met Office forecasts blustery showers, heavy rain, and possible hail and thunder for the UK, marking a stormy start to summer after a record-breaking sunny and warm spring. Temperatures are expected to remain mild in the mid- to high-teens, a contrast from May's peaks of 29.3C, with Scotland seeing 13C and London experiencing 19C on Thursday. Meteorologist Clare Nasir predicted wet weather and stronger winds, especially along channel coasts, with rain tracking eastward and potential for hail and thunder over the weekend. The UK experienced its warmest and sunniest spring on record, with the Met Office noting record mean temperatures and sunshine across Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle highlighted that the UK's changing climate is leading to more frequent extreme conditions, such as prolonged dry, sunny weather, alongside natural variations.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- The Independent
Thunderstorm warning as Met Office forecast heavy rain to batter Britain
Britain's summer is off to a stormy start despite marking the sunniest and warmest spring on record. The Met Office has forecasted blustery showers and heavy rain with occasional hail and thunder from the start of June. While temperatures look to remain mild and balmy at in the mid- to high-teens, it's a marked difference from the sky-high temperatures of May, after the month started with peaks of 29.3C in London. Scotland will see 13C on Thursday, while further south in England, London will experience temperatures of 19C. Meteorologist Clare Nasir said there would be 'more wet weather on its way into the early hours of Thursday morning', adding that 'the rain then gradually tracks towards eastern counties through the morning. A stronger wind, particularly across channel coasts and some showers to follow.' She said: 'This band of rain will mean some wet weather through the first part of Thursday.' The forecaster warned that hail and thunder are possible over the weekend as well while the weather remains wet. The latest downpour comes as Britain marked record-breaking weather for April and May, with the Met Office declaring the warmest and sunniest spring on UK record on Monday. All across the UK, the Met Office marked the warmest spring for mean temperatures since the series began in 1884, surpassing the previous record from 2024. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales also saw their sunniest spring on record, while England recorded its second sunniest spring since records began in 1910. Spring 2025 has been classed as the fourth sunniest season overall for the UK, with only three summers sunnier since records began. The Met Office put the unusual spring weather down to persistent high-pressure systems originating from mainland Europe, which have blocked the usual flow of Atlantic weather fronts. Met Office scientist Emily Carlisle said: "The UK's climate continues to change. What's particularly notable about spring 2025 is the combination of record warmth and sunshine, alongside very low rainfall. 'This spring shows some of the changes we're seeing in our weather patterns, with more extreme conditions, including prolonged dry, sunny weather, becoming more frequent. The data clearly shows that recent decades have been warmer, sunnier, and often drier than the 20th century average, although natural variation will continue to play a role in the UK's weather.' UK weather forecast Wednesday: Sunny spells and showers for many, these locally heavy and frequent in the north. Showers forming into bands across Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, and northern England. Breezy for all, with coastal gales in northwest Scotland at first. Feeling cool. Blustery showers continue to affect the north of the country tonight. Dry with clear spells elsewhere, but thicker cloud and outbreaks of rain arriving from the west later. Thursday: Rain, heavy in places will push eastwards during the day, clearing by mid afternoon. Sunny spells and showers, already affecting Scotland will follow for all. Rather breezy. Friday to Sunday: Staying changeable with sunny spells and showers on Friday. Heavier and more frequent showers on Saturday, with hail and thunder possible. Drier on Sunday. Often breezy and feeling rather cool.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Logan Botanic Garden's rare sapphire tower flower begins to bloom
A rare plant which is native to South America has started to bloom in the south of will have to hurry if they want to see the Puya alpestris - known as the sapphire tower flower - at Logan Botanic Garden as the blooms usually fade within a plant bloomed for the first time at the site near Port Logan in 2024, making it the first outdoor flowering of the species in year it reached about 4ft (1.2m) high but this year it has grown to about 12ft (3.6m). The plant - native to Chile - is already partially in flower, with more buds forming on the "alien-like" Richard Baines said: "I've been a horticulturist for over 40 years and the Puya alpestris is truly among the top three most spectacular plants I've ever seen in my career."Seeing the sapphire tower flower outside its native habitat is a real privilege for us here at Logan and we encourage visitors to come and witness its beauty for themselves over this coming week."However, while it's wonderful to behold, the incredible growth we're witnessing is likely down to the very warm temperatures we experienced this spring."Unfortunately, this is one of the anticipated consequences of climate change and a warming planet, with higher temperatures allowing plants like these to flourish in Scotland – outdoors – in ways that were never possible before."
