Signs of Water on Mars' Surface Might Not Be What We Thought

Signs of water on Mars' surface might not be what we thought

For years, scientists have been intrigued by mysterious dark streaks running down the slopes of Martian cliffs and craters. These marks, called slope streaks and recurring slope lineae (RSLs), have often been considered possible signs of water on Mars. That raised hopes that the Red Planet could support life or may have supported life in the past. But new research is challenging that idea. A team from Brown University and the University of Bern …

Planet Mars: 'Strange' Surface Streaks | Europe's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

Planet Mars: 'Strange' Surface Streaks | Europe's ExoMars Trace Gas OrbiterImage Description: Bright and dark streaks covering the slopes of the Olympus Mons aureole, as seen by the Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) onboard the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. An aureole describes an area of metamorphosed rock surrounding an igneous intrusion.As if someone has been sweeping the surface of Mars with a broom, the o…