Scientists have announced that flowing water is almost definitely present on the surface of Mars. Nasa said last week that there had been a ‘major science finding’ on the Red Planet and a ‘mystery had been solved’.
Scientists said today in the journal Nature Geoscience that long, dark streaks found on the Martian terrain consisted of mineral salts that easily absorb moisture, and that flowing water on the surface is the likeliest explanation for their appearance.
Salt lowers the freezing point of water, and scientists say that would point to seasonal briny flows as the cause of the streaks, or Recurring Stroke Lineae (RSL).‘Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that recurring slope lineae [the long streaks] form as a result of contemporary water activity on Mars,’ read the study.
‘Water is essential to life as we know it. The presence of liquid water on Mars today has astrobiological, geologic and hydrologic implications and may affect future human exploration.’
Speaking to the Guardian, lead scientist on Nasa’s Mars explanation programme Michael Meyer said:
No comments:
Post a Comment