Scientists have nearly solved one of Mars’ biggest mysteries. They have uncovered the secret behind the thousands of mysterious mounds on the Red Planet.
The scientists discovered that these mounds suggest that Mars once had water, which led to the formation of these structures. Over 15,000 of these mounds are located between Mars’ northern and southern hemispheres in a region called Chryse Planitia.
The geographical features of these mounds had long been a puzzle for scientists, as they couldn’t figure out how they were formed. Images of these vast mounds were taken by NASA and the European Space Agency’s Mars orbiting missions.
A new study published in the journal Nature Geoscience sheds light on the mystery of these mounds. The research suggests that this discovery may explain why Mars’ northern and southern hemispheres are so different from each other.
The study reveals that four billion years ago, water played a key role in shaping this region. The mounds are described as “time capsules,” which could help astronauts uncover the secrets of Mars’ past.
In the future, the European Space Agency’s rover, expected to be launched in 2028, will land near these mounds and may conduct research, providing further insights into the history of water on Mars.
The researchers gathered images from Mars’ orbiting missions and analyzed them in depth. Though the mounds appear similar from a distance, high-definition sensors on the missions allowed the research team to zoom in and discover surprising differences in their structure.
The findings suggest that these mounds could be the last remnants of an ancient plateau shaped by the flow of water. The results indicate that billions of years ago, water was present on and beneath the surface of this region, and over time, the flow of water altered the surface, leading to the mounds’ current form.
