By: Emma Xing

In 2012, NASA sent the rover, Curiosity, to Mars. Since then, Curiosity has made many discoveries.

However, its latest finding has many scientists thrilled. The US Space Agency revealed that Curiosity found some yellow–green crystals made of sulfur.

But the impressive thing is that the rover found it by complete accident! Curiosity drove over a rock and cracked it open, which revealed the rare stones.

But how did Curiosity discover those crystals? Since October 2023, the rover has been exploring a part of Mars that is rich in sulfates, a type of salt that forms when sulfur mixes with other minerals in water. This is the first time scientists have found something that is pure sulfur on Mars.

Curiosity’s project scientist, Ashvin Vasavada said, “It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting.”

Curiosity found the crystals while driving on Mount Sharp, a three–mile tall mountain, which the rover has been climbing since 2014. NASA claims each layer of the mountain represents a different period of Martian history.

Curiosity’s mission is to study where and when Mars’s terrain could have had the nutrients to support life, if there were any ever formed on Mars. Curiosity has been studying Mars for 12 years. It has made many discoveries, including even taking the first selfie on Mars.