NASA uses AI to uncover deep seismic activity in Mars

Recently, NASA researchers announced significant findings regarding the seismic activity on Mars, particularly related to a meteoroid impact that generated a 'marsquake'. The study utilized data collected by NASA’s InSight lander, which was operational between May 2018 and 2022, marking the first time a robotic explorer delved into the depths of Mars' interior. During its mission, InSight detected over 1,300 marsquakes, providing valuable data for understanding the Red Planet's geological processes. The study drew comparisons from the impact craters monitored by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been capturing images of the Martian surface since 2006. In the pursuit of correlating these impact data with seismic activity, researchers employed a machine learning algorithm. This technology allowed them to sift through tens of thousands of images from the orbiter efficiently, a process that would have taken years if completed manually. As a result, the team identified 123 fresh craters within approximately 1,864 miles of InSight's location, with nearly 50 being potential matches for seismic events. The findings revealed that the energy released by meteoroid impacts can produce seismic waves that travel deeper into Mars' mantle than previously understood. This contradicts earlier assumptions that seismic energy largely remained within the Martian crust. Constantinos Charalambous, an Imperial College London researcher and InSight team member, referred to this discovery as a 'seismic highway', indicating a faster pathway for these waves to traverse the planet. The team's analysis concluded that these seismic impacts could be generating high-frequency signals previously thought to be exclusive to quakes occurring within Cerberus Fossae, a fissure region north of the Martian equator. This groundbreaking new understanding of Mars' geology challenges existing models of the planet's interior and paves the way for future research into seismic phenomena. As scientists continue to investigate, they will be reevaluating their concepts of seismic activity and its origins on Mars, particularly in light of the strong correlation established between the fresh impacts and detected seismic events. The research outcomes will guide future missions and contribute to the ongoing quest to understand Mars more thoroughly, particularly as preparations for human exploration and possible colonization are in discussions. NASA's continued use of advanced technologies is crucial in unlocking the secrets of the extraterrestrial environment.