Was there life on Mars?

The Curiosity rover finds definitive proof rivers flowed, NASA will now search for carbon deposits

Published September 28, 2012 12:29PM (EDT)

        (@MarsCuriosity)
(@MarsCuriosity)

NASA has found definitive proof that water once flowed over the surface of Mars. Images captured by the Curiosity rover show rocks eroded and smoothed by flowing water in what was once a large canyon with connecting streams. It's thought these rocks could be several billion years old.

Curiosity took to Twitter to announce its discovery:

[embedtweet id="251383750087278592"]

Now evidence of water has been found, NASA scientists will be searching for carbon deposits in Martian rock, to determine whether the water supported life on Mars.


By Natasha Lennard

Natasha Lennard is an assistant news editor at Salon, covering non-electoral politics, general news and rabble-rousing. Follow her on Twitter @natashalennard, email nlennard@salon.com.

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Curiosity Rover Mars Nasa Space Exploration Water