Martian salt deposits could be clue in search for life
Posted: Sat, Mar 22, 2008, 10:20 AM ET (1420 GMT)
Salt deposits discovered on the surface of Mars in data from a NASA mission could help scientists identify prime locations to look for evidence of past life on the Red Planet. In a paper published in the journal Science this week, scientists reported detecting 200 locations in the planet's southern regions that had spectral characteristics, as measured by an instrument on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter, consistent with chloride minerals. Scientists believe these deposits formed over 3.5 billion years ago when groundwater came to the surface and later evaporated, leaving behind the salt deposits. Such locations would be prime areas for primitive life to form.
Salt deposits discovered on the surface of Mars in data from a NASA mission could help scientists identify prime locations to look for evidence of past life on the Red Planet. In a paper published in the journal Science this week, scientists reported detecting 200 locations in the planet's southern regions that had spectral characteristics, as measured by an instrument on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter, consistent with chloride minerals. Scientists believe these deposits formed over 3.5 billion years ago when groundwater came to the surface and later evaporated, leaving behind the salt deposits. Such locations would be prime areas for primitive life to form.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, June 8
SpaceX: Falcon 9 rocket set to launch Starlink satellites from Florida
WOFL-TV Orlando — 6:35 am ET (1035 GMT) SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral
WESH-TV Orlando — 6:34 am ET (1034 GMT) What the ‘Dean of Valuation’ Thinks Elon Musk’s SpaceX Is Really Worth [$1.3T]
Wall Street Journal — 6:32 am ET (1032 GMT) Is Elon Musk’s SpaceX Really Worth $1.75 Trillion?
The New Yorker — 6:28 am ET (1028 GMT) SpaceX's retail-investor push is raising some red flags
Business Insider — 6:28 am ET (1028 GMT) |
