While exploring Mars, experts made an unexpected discovery indicating the presence of liquid water on the planet and, possibly, the presence of life.< /p>
This information was reported by Comments.UA, reports URA-Inform.
As it turned out, NASA's Curiosity rover discovered a significant amount of pure sulfur on Mars. The researchers were stunned by this, as they did not expect to find sulfur in this state on the Red Planet.
This discovery provided scientists with additional evidence that life could have existed on this planet in the past.
The Curiosity rover, weighing about a ton, leaves traces on the surface of Mars as it moves. In addition, he moves stones, which sometimes crack under his weight. That's what happened this time too. While moving along the Gediz Wallis Channel, the rover accidentally split rocks and discovered unusual structures.
The researchers admit they have never seen anything like this before and did not expect to find it on Mars. It turned out that the rover found crystals of pure sulfur. Previously, sulfur on Mars was found only in mineral form. Scientists believe this is further evidence that life may have existed on Mars in the past.
«Discovering pure sulfur stones is like finding an oasis in the desert. It shouldn't be there, so we have to explain it,” said Ashwin Vasavada, a Mars mission scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
Scientists explain that pure sulfur in the form crystals on the surface of Mars is further evidence that the planet had liquid water. In their opinion, sulfur could have played a key role in the origin of life on Earth, when more than four billion years ago the planet's atmosphere was saturated with carbon and sulfur.
Let's remember when men and women reach real maturity: a study by scientists.< /p>
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