Latest news with #CuriosityRover
The Independent
3 hours ago
- Science
- 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.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA Curiosity rover discovers coral-like flower-shaped rocks on Mars
NASA's Curiosity Rover has taken images of coral-like and flower-shaped rocks on Mars, which have been estimated to be billions of years old. 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. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA Curiosity rover discovers coral-like flower-shaped rocks on Mars
NASA's Curiosity Rover has taken images of coral-like and flower-shaped rocks on Mars, which have been estimated to be billions of years old. 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.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Science
- The Independent
NASA Curiosity rover discovers coral-like flower-shaped rocks on Mars
NASA's Curiosity Rover has taken images of coral-like and flower-shaped rocks on Mars, which have been estimated to be billions of years old. 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.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Curiosity rover finds more coral-shaped rocks on Martian surface
The Brief The Curiosity Mars rover photographed more rocks that are shaped like coral on the red planet's surface. Researchers said the rocks were evidence that at one point water was on Mars. The Curiosity rover has been on the red planet for over 13 years. NASA's Curiosity rover has spotted some unusually-shaped rocks on Mars' surface. Coral on Mars? Dig deeper Photos shared on NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory website show wind-eroded rocks that are shaped like pieces of coral. The rover discovered these specimens on July 24, 2025. Researchers nicknamed the rock "Paposo." The backstory Many rocks like Papaso litter the red planet's surface, which researchers said formed billions of years ago when liquid water still existed on Mars. In 2022, NASA shared images of another rock that also looked like coral but more flower-shaped. The flower-shaped rock was found in the Gale Crater. What they're saying "Water carried dissolved minerals into rock cracks and later dried, leaving the hardened minerals behind. Eons of sandblasting by the wind wore away the surrounding rock, producing unique shapes," NASA said. Curiosity has been roving Mars' surface for 13 years, according to JPL's website. The Source Information for this article was taken from the JPL website. Solve the daily Crossword
