Was there life on Mars?
The Curiosity rover finds definitive proof rivers flowed, NASA will now search for carbon deposits
By Natasha LennardTopics: NASA, Mars, Space exploration, Water, curiosity rover, Technology News, News
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:
A River Ran Through It. I found evidence of an ancient streambed on Mars, similar to some on Earth twitter.com/MarsCuriosity/…
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) September 27, 2012
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.
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. More Natasha Lennard.
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