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The revelation by NASA of flowing water on Mars was a monumental event. Since then, numerous new findings have emerged, many of which have flown under the radar of the public eye. At present, two rovers and three orbiters are actively studying Mars, with two more missions on the horizon. We are constantly uncovering more details about our red neighbor or affirming earlier theories.
10. Mars Hosts Impact Glass That Could Preserve Life
Impactite is a rock formed by the collision of a meteorite. It typically consists of a blend of rocks, minerals, glass, and crystals created through the process of shock metamorphism. Notable impactite locations on Earth include the Alamo bolide impact site in Nevada and Darwin Crater in Tasmania. Recently, NASA discovered new sources of impactite on Mars.
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter identified deposits of impact glass in several craters across the Red Planet. In 2014, researcher Peter Schultz demonstrated that similar impact glass found in Argentina preserved plant material and organic compounds, raising the possibility that Mars' impact glass might contain remnants of ancient life.
The next step involves obtaining a sample of Martian impact glass. Hargraves Crater, one of the locations known for its glass deposits, is a top contender for the 2020 rover's landing site. This discovery strengthens its position as a leading candidate.
9. A Comet’s Close Pass Disrupted Mars’ Magnetosphere
In September 2014, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft entered Mars' orbit. A few weeks after its arrival, the probe witnessed a rare event when a comet flew extremely close to the Red Planet.
Comet C/2013 A1, commonly referred to as Siding Spring, was discovered in 2013. Initially, there were concerns that the comet might collide with Mars, but the two objects came within 140,000 kilometers (87,000 miles) of each other.
Scientists were keen to observe how such a close flyby would affect Mars. Due to its weak magnetosphere, the planet was inundated with ions as the comet's potent magnetic field overpowered that of Mars. NASA likened the impact to a powerful but brief solar storm. As the comet's magnetic force increased, Mars' magnetic field was thrown into turmoil, at times fluttering 'like a curtain in the wind.'
8. Mars Sports a Mohawk
In 2013, the MAVEN spacecraft was launched to study Mars’ atmosphere. Based on the probe's observations, computer models suggest that the planet flaunts a rather fashionable 'Mohawk.'
Mars’ stylish hairdo is actually made up of electrically charged particles being swept away by solar winds from the planet’s upper atmosphere. The electric field generated by incoming solar wind, along with other intense solar phenomena like coronal mass ejections and solar flares, can steer these particles toward the poles. This results in a polar plume of escaping ions that resembles a 'Mohawk.'
7. Mars' Future Crops
If humans ever make Mars their home, we will need to find ways to provide food for settlers on the Red Planet. Scientists at Wageningen University have identified four types of vegetables and cereals that should be safe to grow and consume in Martian soil.
These four crops are tomatoes, radishes, rye, and peas. Researchers from the Netherlands have successfully cultivated them in soil designed to mimic Martian conditions, developed by NASA. Despite the soil containing high amounts of heavy metals like cadmium and copper, the crops did not absorb enough to pose 'dangerous levels.'
This research is part of a larger experiment that will explore the potential of six other foods as viable crops for Mars. The study is supported by Mars One, a project that is currently selecting candidates for a manned mission to Mars in the next 10–15 years.
6. Mars’ Morse Code Dunes
Mars' dunes have been under the watch of rovers and probes for some time now, but a recent set of images captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has left scientists scratching their heads. In February 2016, the spacecraft focused on an area displaying intricate dunes that bear a striking resemblance to the dots and dashes used in Morse code.
The prevailing theory suggests that a nearby depression, likely the remnants of an old impact crater, restricted the amount of sand available for dune creation, resulting in their peculiar forms. The 'dash' dunes were shaped by winds blowing at right angles from two different directions, giving them their linear appearance.
The origins of the smaller “dot” dunes remain somewhat elusive. Generally, they form when something disrupts the usual creation of linear dunes. Yet, scientists are still uncertain about the specific cause of this disruption and are hopeful that further exploration of the area will shed light on the process.
5. Martian Mineral Mystery
In 2015, the Curiosity rover explored a region of Mars that has been sparking numerous questions among NASA scientists. Dubbed the 'Marias Pass,' this area is a geological contact zone where a layer of sandstone rests on top of a bed of mudstone.
The region contains an unusually high concentration of silica, with some rocks boasting up to 90 percent silica. Silica is a chemical compound commonly found in Earth’s rocks and minerals, especially quartz.
As Curiosity team member Albert Yen explains, typical methods for increasing silica levels involve either dissolving other substances or bringing in additional silica from other sources. Both processes require water, so understanding these mechanisms will help us better comprehend Mars’ ancient, watery past.
The scientists were even more astonished when they analyzed a rock sample and discovered a mineral called tridymite, a first for Mars. Tridymite is exceedingly rare on Earth, but in the Marias Pass, it is found in large quantities, and its origin remains a mystery.
4. The White Planet
At one point in history, Mars may have been more white than red. Scientists at the Southern Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, suggest this is due to Mars experiencing a recent ice age that was even more severe than any ice age seen on Earth.
The team made this discovery by studying the ice layers at Mars’ north pole. On Earth, researchers would typically extract a core sample of ice and examine the layers, but since this wasn't feasible on Mars, they used the Shallow Subsurface Radar on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Using ground-penetrating radar, astronomers were able to peer 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) into Mars' icy crust. They created a 2-D cross-section that revealed Mars experienced a severe ice age 370,000 years ago and is expected to go through another one in about 150,000 years.
3. Mars Had More Water Than The Arctic Ocean
While the exact location of Mars' ancient ocean remains a subject of debate, it is widely accepted that the Red Planet once had an abundance of water. According to NASA, Mars may have had enough water to cover the entire planet with a vast ocean, about 140 meters (450 feet) deep. This ocean likely surpassed the size of Earth's Arctic Ocean, covering approximately 19 percent of the Martian surface.
These findings were made possible through observations by the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii and the Very Large Telescope in Chile. Today, Mars' atmosphere contains two types of water: H2O and HDO, where regular hydrogen molecules are replaced with deuterium, an isotope of hydrogen.
Scientists analyzed the ratio of H2O to HDO on Mars and compared it to the ratio found in a 4.5-billion-year-old Martian meteorite. The results show that Mars has lost 87 percent of its water content to space.
2. Ancient Mars Had Mega Tsunamis
While there is still debate among scientists about the existence of a northern ocean on Mars, recent studies provide evidence that such an ocean did indeed exist. Moreover, this ocean was likely destroyed by massive tsunamis, far larger than any we’ve encountered on Earth.
Up until now, the only signs pointing to an ancient Martian ocean were remnants of a shoreline, but this shoreline was not as widespread as expected. If these colossal tsunamis occurred, they could have obliterated parts of the shoreline.
Alexis Rodriguez, a prominent supporter of this new theory, argues that the waves would have reached heights of up to 120 meters (394 feet) and occurred as frequently as once every three million years. Rodriguez is particularly keen on investigating craters near the shoreline, which would have been submerged by massive tsunamis. The water trapped in these craters over millions of years offers a promising location to search for evidence of ancient life on Mars.
1. Mars Had Underground Volcanoes
Tridymite, which is typically found in igneous rocks, has been newly discovered on Mars, pointing to significant volcanic activity in its history. Fresh evidence from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter also suggests that Mars once had volcanoes that erupted beneath ice sheets.
The spacecraft explored a region on Mars called Sisyphi Montes, a landscape characterized by flat-topped mountains that resemble those on Earth formed by volcanic activity beneath ice.
When a volcanic eruption takes place beneath ice, it is typically powerful enough to breach the ice layer, sending large amounts of ash into the atmosphere. This process leaves behind a distinctive trail of minerals and compounds, which provides a unique signature for subglacial eruptions, a feature observed at Sisyphi Montes as well.
