May 9, 2025, 12:00 AM
May 9, 2025, 12:00 AM

Curiosity rover investigates mysterious polygon patterns on Mars

Highlights
  • NASA's Curiosity rover is studying polygon-patterned rocks on Mars, suggesting a historical connection to its previous water presence.
  • Planetary geologist Catherine O'Connell-Cooper proposed that these unique shapes might have formed as the planet dried or through groundwater movement.
  • This ongoing investigation may provide insights into Mars' climate history and its potential habitability for microbial life.
Story

NASA's Curiosity rover has been observing polygon-patterned rocks on Mars, an area nicknamed 'polygon heaven.' This investigation took place in May 2025, during the rover's ongoing mission to explore the Martian surface, which began in 2012. The Curiosity team has expressed interest in understanding the origins of these geometric shapes, which may be linked to Mars' historical water presence. The patterns resemble formations found on Earth when mud dries, suggesting a similar process could have occurred on Mars.

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