By: Yi Chen
NASA’s Curiosity rover recently discovered rare sulfur crystals on Mars. It was unearthed by accident, [when?] which makes the discovery even more stunning. Why is this significant?
Since 2023, Curiosity has been exploring a part of Mars rich with sulfates, a combination of sulfur and other minerals. This discovery is unusually amazing since it is the first time scientists have discovered pure sulfur on Mars. “Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting,” Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity’s project scientist, said.
Curiosity found the crystals on Mount Sharp, a mountain three miles tall on Mars, which it has been exploring for the past few years. Curiosity’s mission is to study where Martian terrain could have provided the nutrients needed, such as carbohydrates and metals, for life if any ever formed on Mars. Curiosity the rover has been exploring the surface of Mars ever since landing on it on August 6, 2012. The rover has made many amazing discoveries, such as the discovery of sulfates, on the red planet since then. The probe’s function is to search for historical life and learn more about Mars. It can take pictures, collect samples, and then send the information to Earth.
Ashwin Vasavada said: “It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it.” “Right now, we’re kind of analyzing all of the data we collected and trying to figure out what observations we can make that can either support or cross off some of these environments,” said Abigail Fraeman, the Curiosity mission’s deputy project scientist.
Another rover sent to Mars was Perseverance. According to NASA, NASA’s Perseverance rover has discovered the volcanic history, habitability, and role of water in Jezero Crater, a part of the red planet. It also produced oxygen on Mars.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/22/curiosity-rover-discovers-rare-pure-mineral-mars/74495771007/#:~:text=As%20the%20rover%20rolled%20over,Curiosity%20mission’s%20deputy%20project%20scientist. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-2020-perseverance/science-highlightshttps://www.bbc.com/newsround/articles/cd1r2r68mpvo