The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Mars rover Perseverance has discovered signs of tropical rain on the Red Planet.
The rover discovered strange “bleached” rocks, indicating that the planet has been warm and humid for millions of years, according to analysis of the photos by scientists at Purdue University in Indiana.
Many say it is one of the greatest evidence of conditions once suitable for life on Mars.
Briony Horgan, professor of planetary sciences at Purdue University, said: “The rocks are evidence of an ancient, warmer, wetter climate. »
Experts say this provides an opportunity to study how Mars ended up in its current barren state when it received rainfall similar to that of Earth’s tropical regions, such as the Amazon rainforest.
Analysis of the fragments on the rocks revealed that they were made of Kaolinite, a mineral usually formed in tropical conditions, confirming the heavy precipitation that the Red Planet once received.
Professor Horgan said: “This is truly incredible. It indicates a potentially habitable environment when life could have thrived.”
The new study, published in the journal Earth and Environment Communicationssaid there was no evidence the rocks came from or were transported from elsewhere.
