Was there water on Mars? Previous investigations had found some clues, but now Curiosity, the robot that has been exploring the surface of the neighboring planet since the beginning of August, has found rocks whose shape, according to experts, originated from the action of water.
NASA researchers are studying in depth a series of photos taken by the rover inside Gale crater, which show cemented stones in a layer of conglomerate rock. The rounded shape of the outcrops, calledHottahYLink, makes scientists think that the stones were transported long distances. “Its shape indicates that the rocks moved, and due to its size it is impossible that the transport was by the wind. It had to be a stream of water, “explains Rebeca Williams, from the Institute of Planetary Sciences in Tucson (USA) and a participant in the project.
In addition, researchers can infer the depth of the water and the speed at which it was flowing across the surface. “By the size of the gravel, we can interpret that the water was moving around 0.9 meters per second,” explains William Dietrich of the University of California. “Much has been written about the possibility that in the past there were water channels on Mars, but this is the first time that we are seeing gravel transported by water. We have gone from speculation to direct observation,” adds the researcher.
The main objective of the Curiosity mission is to find potentially habitable places on Mars. “A stream can be a habitable environment,” says mission scientist John Grotzinger. “However, in this environment it is difficult for organic matter to be conserved. Curiosity has yet to reach its main destination, Mount Sharp. Thereclay and sulfate minerals have been detected in which organic compounds could have been conserved, the potential ingredients for life, “he recalled. Curiosity will still spend almost two years exploring the surface of Mars, long enough to give us many more surprises.
