Sorry it's been a while, faithful readers. I'll be posting weekly from now on, especially since I have lots more to write about.
It's old news by now, but liquid water has been discovered on Mars!
It's old news by now, but liquid water has been discovered on Mars!
On September 28, 2015, NASA confirmed the evidence that there is liquid water on Mars. You'd been holding out on us, Mars! Before that day, scientists knew there was frozen water in the caps, but now there is evidence of liquid water. This is an important step for a few reasons: first, if we were to ever colonize Mars, liquid water would mean a greater chance of survival, and second, liquid water is one of the best things to support life, which we have been searching for.
The streaks above are evidence of the discovery; NASA scientists say these streaks, called recurring slope lineae, are caused recently flowing water. Scientists have also found hydrated salts on the slopes, adding more proof to the discovery. How? The salts would lower the freezing point, just like salt on sidewalks on Earth. This would allow ice to melt and flow more quickly. These slopes have been found to flow and ebb over time; they darken and flow in warm seasons, but fade away in cooler seasons.
Now that we've found liquid water on Mars, who knows? There might be life somewhere...
Sources:
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Mars
Now that we've found liquid water on Mars, who knows? There might be life somewhere...
Sources:
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Mars