Set as Homepage - Add to Favorites

【german eroticisms photography】

Source：Pursuit Information Network Editor：Social Good Time：2025-06-27 08:41:34

While rumbling over Mount Sharp on german eroticisms photographyMars, NASA's Curiosity rover found a strange crackled terrain.

These distinct patterns in dry mud, found over 100 million miles away in space, are a thrilling discovery for geologists. The cracks form a lattice of hexagons, signaling that the land has gone through intermittent spells of wetness and dryness. Many scientists credit these environmental shifts with prompting the chemical reactions needed to create microorganisms on Earth.

Of course, scientists have already found ample evidence that Mars could have supported life long ago. But these new geological findings are something quite different, experts say. They reveal the environmental conditions that could have allowed life to emerge on the Red Planet in the first place.

You May Also Like

And to think this major breakthrough was all made possible by looking between the cracks — literally.

"This is the first tangible evidence we’ve seen that the ancient climate of Mars had such regular, Earth-like wet-dry cycles," said William Rapin of France’s Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie in a statement. "But even more important is that wet-dry cycles are helpful — maybe even required — for the molecular evolution that could lead to life."

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!
SEE ALSO: How Mars rovers could explore vast uncharted caves

A team of researchers including lead author Rapin has published a paper in Naturedescribing how this peculiar mesh of cracks offers the first evidence of wet-dry cycles occurring on ancient Mars.

"Wet-dry cycles are helpful — maybe even required — for the molecular evolution that could lead to life."

Curiosity found the mud cracks while exploring a transitional zone of rock between a layer that was rich in clay and another chock full of salty substances called sulfates. Clay minerals tend to form in water, and sulfates form as it evaporates. This intermediate zone preserves a moment in time when lakes and rivers in the Gale Crater, where Mount Sharp stands, began to recede, according to the research.

Studying hexagonal mud cracks on MarsScientists say the cracks form a lattice of hexagons, showing that the land has gone through intermittent spells of wetness and dryness. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS /IRAP

As the mud dries, it shrinks and breaks apart into T shapes. When moisture returns, those patterns soften again, deforming the Ts into Ys that connect to create hexagons. New sediment deposited into the area kept forming new hexagons, geologists say. Curiosity found a salty crust along the edges of the cracks that prevented them from eroding, which explains how these patterns could survive for billions of years.

Want more scienceand tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newslettertoday.

Related Stories
  • Yes, Mars is spinning faster. Here's what NASA found.
  • Mars isn't as red as you might have thought
  • How Mars rovers could explore vast uncharted caves
  • NASA rover finds clear evidence of ancient waves, yes waves, on Mars
  • An enormous Martian cloud returns every spring. Scientists found out why.
Cracking in an old Martian rock slabAs mud dries, it shrinks and breaks apart into T shapes. When moisture returns, those patterns soften again, deforming the Ts into Ys that connect to create hexagons. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

Scientists don't know for sure how life started on Earth, but one strong theory suggests the shifting back and forth between wet and dry conditions helped bring together the ingredients for microbes: simple, primitive living things. Among those first molecules of biology are carbon-based polymers, including nucleic acids.

Earth's tectonic plates, which Mars lacks, churn the surface of the planet, so examples of its early history are erased. Scientists are eager to study the Martian mud cracks to get better insight not just into the Red Planet but perhaps even the recipe for life on Earth, too.

"It’s pretty lucky of us to have a planet like Mars nearby that still holds a memory of the natural processes which may have led to life," Rapin said.

Previous：Best free AI courses in April 2025

Next：Best work from home deal: Save 33% on the FlexiSpot H7 desk at Amazon

Related Articles
Related Recommendations
Categories
Latest Articles
Popular Articles
Hot Recommendations
Featured Column

Quick Links

Bruce Willis did not sign rights for deepfakes to replace him in future films and advertisementsMax adds tribute to Matthew Perry before every 'Friends' seasonStaff Picks: Nathalie Léger, Rebecca Solnit, Henry Green“On Tour,” a Poem by Richard HowardBruce Willis did not sign rights for deepfakes to replace him in future films and advertisementsFacebook and Instagram launch adHow Grief Led Me to the Museum of Wooden SculpturesMcDonald's adds adult Happy Meals to the menu. Yes, you get a toy.The fishing scandal taking over the internetElon Musk and vape binkies: The 14 best tweets of the weekWhy do I bleed after sex?Staff Picks: Nathalie Léger, Rebecca Solnit, Henry GreenThe SilentWordle today: The answer and hints for October 31How Do We Measure Vagueness (Or, When a Heap Is Not a Heap)Songs from a Room: Remembering Leonard CohenAlan Watts and the Age of Environmental AnxietyWhat to expect from the Apple October event 2023Apple just announced new M3 14Staff Picks: Nathalie Léger, Rebecca Solnit, Henry Green The 10 best state Instagram accounts 'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for November 22 No, FTX didn't funnel Ukraine aid to Democratic candidates Trump's trip to London gets a cheeky 'baby blimp' ad from Sky News Airbnb freshens up home categories and adds host setup tools Netflix's 'Run for the Money' is straight out of a Stephen King book Discord voice chat rolls out to all Xbox users Elton John has defiant response after 'Rocketman' censored in Russia Should Harry Styles be an actor? 3 ways to modernize 'Pokémon' after 'Scarlet & Violet' Please enjoy a wide selection of riffs on Keanu Reeves's name YouTube won't take action on videos that target a reporter's race and sexuality DuckDuckGo adds App Tracking Protection for all Android users Can you get verified on Mastodon? What to know. Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for November 18 Mexico vs Poland livestream: How to watch World Cup 2022 Group C live Mothers are lonely right now, according to friendship app Peanut Trump's new hairstyle invites some hilarious comparisons Apple shows off new Memoji beauty and accessory options at WWDC 2019 Khloe Kardashian escorted a starstruck superfan to his prom

1.5333s , 10197.2890625 kb

Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【german eroticisms photography】,Pursuit Information Network  

Sitemap

Top

Quick Links