Researchers at the European Space Agency (ESA) recently made an exciting discovery on Mars—a massive salt deposit resembling a smiley face. This peculiar find has captured the attention of scientists and space enthusiasts alike.
In a post on Instagram, the ESA shared a sequence of images depicting salt formations on the Martian landscape, believed to be remnants from ancient life that may have once thrived on the planet.
Among these formations, one stood out due to its unique smiley shape.
But what makes these salt deposits so fascinating to scientists?
According to NDTV, experts propose that these deposits could potentially harbor resilient microorganisms that once inhabited Mars’ abundant lakes and rivers, which dried up billions of years ago during a severe global freeze.
The striking images of these chloride salt deposits were captured by ESA’s “ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter,” a mission dedicated to searching for signs of life on the Red Planet.
ESA scientists suggest that these salt formations could provide valuable insights into Mars’ climatic history and its capacity to support life.
This study was recently published in the journal Scientific Data.
Valentin Bickel, a planetary scientist from the University of Bern in Switzerland and the lead researcher, explained, “A cold period ensued when Mars lost its magnetic field, which led to a loss of atmosphere, causing water to either evaporate, freeze, or become trapped beneath the surface.
“As water receded over time, it left behind signatures in the form of minerals on the surface. Highly saline waters might have created favorable conditions for life, marking areas that could have been hospitable on Mars. Elevated salt concentrations enable water to remain liquid even at temperatures as low as -40°C.”
The ESA’s Instagram post showcasing this celestial phenomenon has received thousands of likes, sparking lively discussions among space enthusiasts in the comments section.
One user remarked, “That’s stunning!”
Another commented, “With a face like that, we can expect some amusing theories.”
A third person noted, “It would be helpful to have scale references to gauge the size of these craters.”