Science
NASA's Rover Finds New Clues About Water on Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover has spotted minerals on Mars that only form when water is around. Scientists say this is a big step in the search for signs of ancient life.
3.5 billionyears since Mars may have had liquid water
The facts
- 1The Perseverance rover has been exploring Mars since February 2021.
- 2It found carbonate and sulphate minerals inside Jezero Crater.
- 3These minerals usually form in lakes or rivers on Earth.
- 4The rover collected rock samples that will be sent back to Earth on a future mission.
- 5No living things have been found — only clues that water once existed.
Why it matters
If Mars once had water, it might have had microscopic life too — understanding this helps scientists learn whether life can exist beyond Earth.
Sources
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory — Mars 2020 Mission Updates
- Nature Geoscience — Carbonate-bearing rocks in Jezero Crater (2025)
Related explainer
Related stories
Science2 min read
Webb Telescope Spots Star Nurseries Inside a Spiral Galaxy 23 Million Light-Years Away
Science3 min read
Artemis III: NASA Plans a Tricky Earth Orbit Rehearsal Before Sending Crew to the Moon
Science3 min read