NASA Rover Finds Ancient Ripple Marks Suggesting Mars Was Once Habitable

NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered compelling evidence that Mars once hosted warm, wet conditions conducive to life. The rover has identified ancient ripple formations on what were once the shorelines of lakes approximately 3.7 billion years ago. These ripples, formed by small waves, indicate that Mars had open-air bodies of water, supporting the idea that the planet may have been capable of harboring microbial life.

Researchers from Caltech emphasize that the presence of liquid water for extended periods increases the potential for microbial habitability during Mars' early history. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, suggest that these shallow lakes, varying between 200 to 500 meters wide, were not frozen, further confirming the kind of hospitable environment that could support life.

Despite the dried-up landscape of Mars today — which is now 1,000 times drier than the driest desert on Earth — the existence of these ancient lakes paints a different picture of the planet's past. According to the study, understanding Mars' transition from a wet and warm environment to a cold desert can provide insights into the possibilities of life beyond our planet.

NASA plans to continue to explore Mars with robotic missions, hoping to return pristine rock samples in the 2030s, which could potentially offer more evidence of past life on the Red Planet.