【?????? ????????】NASA's rover photo shows water once absolutely gushed on Mars

Mars once gushed with water.

The ?????? ????????Red Planet, long ago callously stripped of its insulating atmosphere, is today 1,000 times drierthan the driest desert on Earth. But deep, roaring rivers used to flow through parts of the ancient Martian landscape. Earlier this year, NASA's car-sized Perseverance rover found evidence of a "rollicking" and "high-energy river." The waterway, evaporated billions of years ago, left evidence of the pebble-rich debris it once transported.

Now, the space agency's rover, exploring Mars' Jezero Crater, has spotted evidence of perhaps vastly more water. As the image below shows, Perseverance snapped images of an expansive boulder field. These large rocks were almost certainly moved by water, similar to how such rocks are moved on Earth.

---

You May Also Like

---

---

"These boulders were transported by water that was either deeper or flowed faster than the ancient waterway that deposited the smaller pebbles that also populate the area," NASA wrote.

SEE ALSO: NASA helicopter captures glorious view of Mars, with some surprises A boulder field spotted by NASA's Perseverance rover in the planet's Jezero Crater. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU / MSSS

In the image above, you can spy the rover's tracks as it traversed the boulder field. For reference, its six wheels are each 20 inches across; so these are some sizable, heavy rocks.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

NASA's planetary researchers are assessing what these past rivers were like. They know the waterways were robust, and at times curved. "Scientists are now debating what kind of powerfully flowing water formed those curves: a river like the Mississippi, which winds snakelike across the landscape, or a braided river like Nebraska’s Platte, which forms small islands of sediment called sandbars," NASA previously explained.

Overall, it's clear Mars was once an extremely watery place. There are also dried-up lakes, dried streams, and even evidence of ancient waves.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The question that looms large is if any primitive life ever evolved in Mars' waterways and moist environments (or if Martian life dwelled underground).

One of Perseverance's primary objectives is to "search for signs of ancient microbial life," NASA said. "The rover will characterize the planet's geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith (broken rock and dust)."

---

Related Stories

---

• NASA's new Mars video is astonishing
• A NASA rover just found trash on Mars
• The best telescopes for gazing at stars and solar eclipses in 2024
• An enormous Martian cloud returns every spring. Scientists found out why.
• Mars rover rumbles by crashed artifacts in the Martian desert

Want more scienceand tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newslettertoday.

So far, although organic materials — like the carbon found in our bodies — have been found in Martian rock samples, there's no evidence of past cell structures or specific molecules that are telltale signs of life. The extraterrestrial search ahead will be long.

"The burden of proof for establishing life on another planet is very, very high," Perseverance project manager Ken Farley said at a press conference last year.

• explore
• hotspot
• relaxation
• knowledge
• fashion
• focus
• recreation
• synthesize

• ‘Oni wa Soto! Fuku wa Uchi!’
• Winning on Jeopardy: Who Is Ed Hashima?
• JA Elected Officials Eulogize Former PM Abe
• Mainland spokesperson denounces Lai Ching
• Pavilion for Japanese Art Closed Temporarily
• Taiwan separatists not allowed to profit from mainland: spokesperson
• University of Michigan Appoints Santa Ono as New President
• Mainland expert debunks Lai's 'four elements' argument for Taiwan's so
• ‘Oni wa Soto! Fuku wa Uchi!’
• Immigrant Rights Groups Trying to Stop Deportation of Phoeun You

• Sam Altman breaks silence on OpenAI firing
• The best Black Friday Sonos speaker deals: save up to 25% on the Era 100, Move, Roam, and more
• Best Meta Quest 2 deal: Get the Meta Quest 2 for just $249 at Amazon
• Does ChatGPT work for finding Black Friday deals? We tested it ourselves.
• Best Black Friday deals at Best Buy: TVs, laptops, headphones, and more
• Best Echo deal: Get an Echo Pop and a Kasa smart color bulb for under $18
• Apple pauses ads on X / Twitter after Elon Musk endorses antisemitic conspiracy
• What it really means to 'give yourself grace'
• The best Black Friday deals on Apple AirTags in 2023
• Here's a timeline of the OpenAI saga with CEO Sam Altman

• Tezuka’s ‘Belladonna of Sadness’ at the Nuart
• JACL Responds to Shinzo Abe's Assassination
• Mainland urges US to handle Taiwan question with utmost prudence
• Abe’s Death Raises Security Questions as Japan Mourns
• Riverside Love Story, an Artist
• MILESTONES: George Mayeda Celebrates 100th Birthday
• Mainland pledges all
• JA Elected Officials Eulogize Former PM Abe
• ‘Oni wa Soto! Fuku wa Uchi!’
• Youths from island foray into businesses in Fujian

• On the Road with Hello Kitty
• Japanese City Alarmed by Biting, Clawing, Attacking Monkeys
• Mainland urges US to handle Taiwan question with utmost prudence
• Japan Foundation to Present Double Feature
• JUMBO TEAM получила квоту на LAN
• Mark T. Uyeda Sworn In as SEC Commissioner
• JAVA Holds Day of Affirmation Ceremony at National WWII Memorial
• Japan's Tight Gun Laws Add to Shock Over Abe's Assassination
• ‘Harimaya Bridge’ Screening at SFV Hongwanji Temple
• Mainland slams DPP authorities for selling out Taiwan to seek independence