The first close-up images captured by NASA’s Curiosity rover reveal evidence of ancient water flows on Mars. Scientists believe that rivers, lakes, and possibly an ocean once existed on the red planet before drying up, transforming it into the desert it is today. The images show distinct ridges in a boxwork pattern indicative of past groundwater activity, suggesting that minerals accumulated in cracks and fissures over time. These ridges, resembling spiderweb patterns from space, had only been observed from orbit until now. Curiosity’s project scientist noted the mystery behind the formation of these patterns and the presence of calcium sulfate veins, which were previously unseen in this region of Mount Sharp. The rover, which landed in Gale Crater in 2012, has been climbing Mount Sharp since 2014 in search of environments that could have supported life.
