NASA's Curiosity Rover Captures Stunning Footage of Mars' Twilight Clouds

USUnited States|

NASA's Curiosity rover has recorded captivating footage of "noctilucent" clouds on Mars, showcasing delicate red-and-green clouds drifting high above the Martian surface. Captured on January 17, these twilight clouds, which are made of carbon dioxide ice, form between 37 to 50 miles (60 to 80 kilometers) above Mars, where temperatures allow the gas to condense into ice. According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the video compresses 16 minutes of footage into a sequence sped up by approximately 480 times.

This marks the fourth Martian year Curiosity has observed these clouds, typically seen during the southern hemisphere's early fall. Mark Lemmon, an atmospheric scientist involved with the Curiosity mission, noted that their appearance has become predictable enough to plan observations accordingly. Scientists aim to understand why these twilight clouds are not observed elsewhere on Mars. The Perseverance rover, for instance, has yet to detect them since its landing in 2021.

The findings contribute to a growing map of cloud formations on Mars, highlighting the planet's atmospheric complexity.

Weekly Newsletter

Loading...

More from United States

Author Yiyun Li Reflects on Loss After Tragic Deaths of Two Sons

Yiyun Li, a celebrated author and professor at Princeton University, has opened up about the devastating impact of losing her two sons, Vincent and James, to suicide. Vincent died in 2017 at the age of 16, and James followed in 2024 at 19. Both were found at the same location, a tragic coincidence that has left Li grappling with deep sorrow and questions about parenting and mental health. In her new book, "Things in Nature Merely Grow," Li reflects on her experiences and the emotional rollercoaster of grief. Despite providing a loving and supportive environment for her children, she acknowledges moments of regret and questions whether she adequately prepared them to cope with life's challenges. Li's perspective sheds light on the stigma surrounding suicide and the misunderstandings that often accompany such tragedies. "People who die from suicide are in extreme pain," she stated, urging for broader comprehension and compassion in discussions about mental health. The book aims to honor her sons' memories while challenging societal perceptions of depression and loss.
USUnited States

AI Music Fraud Case Unveiled: $10 Million Scheme and a Billion Streams Without Fans

Michael Smith, a North Carolina medical clinic owner, has been arrested as part of the first AI streaming fraud case in the U.S., accused of generating over $10 million through fraudulent means. According to federal prosecutors, Smith allegedly deployed software bots to artificially inflate stream counts of AI-generated music, leading to a reported billion streams but no actual fan engagement. Smith and collaborator Jonathan Hay released a jazz album, "Jazz," in 2018, which initially gained popularity but vanished from charts shortly after. Suspicion grew when analytics indicated a peculiar listening pattern concentrated in unexpected regions like Vietnam. Investigations revealed that Smith directed staff at his clinics to stream the tracks, resulting in streaming service flags for fraudulent activity. The Boston-based AI song generator Boomy, linked to Smith, produced thousands of tracks that were assigned to fictitious artists with bizarre names, further complicating the scheme. Smith pleaded not guilty, while Hay, who claims ignorance of the fraud, has cooperated with authorities and expressed relief at the investigation.
USUnited States

Small Plane Crash in San Diego Neighborhood Causes Multiple Fires

A small private plane crashed in a San Diego neighborhood early Thursday, igniting fires in at least 15 homes. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time when a Cessna 550 went down near Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Firefighting teams responded promptly to the scene to tackle the blazes, which were reportedly fueled by jet fuel from the aircraft. Local authorities have confirmed that there are no fatalities reported, but several individuals have sustained injuries, necessitating medical attention. The full extent of property damage is still being assessed as investigations into the cause of the crash continue. Witnesses described seeing flames and smoke rising from the neighborhood shortly after the plane went down, which led to an immediate evacuation of affected homes. “We never imagined this could happen in our community,” one resident remarked. The FAA is expected to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
USUnited States