91download.com supports a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Dailymotion, Reddit, Bilibili, Douyin, Xiaohongshu and Zhihu, etc. Click the download button below to parse and download the current video
Have you ever wondered what secrets Mars might be hiding beneath its red, dusty surface? Researchers have just discovered something extraordinary that could change our understanding of the Red Planet's composition and potential for human exploration.
In a groundbreaking study, researchers analyzing high-resolution photos captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have uncovered massive ice sheets on the Martian landscape. What makes this discovery even more intriguing is that these ice sheets were found at eight locations where recent landslides had occurred. In some regions, the ice sheets are over 300 feet thick, a revelation that came as a surprise to the scientific community.
Colin Dundas, a planetary geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey, described the ice sheets in the recently released research paper. "At these locations, it's quite a thick ice sheet of rather clean ice," he noted. Despite some dust and debris, the ice is predominantly pure, offering a fascinating glimpse into Mars's past.
The exposed ice is believed to be sublimating into the Martian atmosphere, turning directly from a solid into a gas. This process is visible due to the ice's location on steep hillsides, providing researchers with a cross-section of the ice. "On Mars, when you see something bright, it usually means ice," Richard Zurek, a scientist for the Mars Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told Wired. The albedo readings and spectrometer data confirm that this is indeed water ice, not ice-cemented soil, which would be much harder to convert into water as a resource.
One theory suggests that these ice sheets originated from snow deposits in the distant past. "Something caused it to be deposited and then deposited again," Dundas explained. Researchers are eager to examine a Martian ice core, which could provide a preserved record of the planet's history, invaluable for understanding its past climate and conditions.
The photographed ice is located in the midlatitudes, about 55 degrees north or south of Mars's equator. This means it will likely be out of reach for the first human explorers to Mars, who will have to brave a 35 million mile journey. "If you wanna stay warm, it's better to be in Hawaii than Alaska," Zurek humorously noted.
Both NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have Mars missions scheduled for launch in 2020. These missions will carry rovers equipped with ground-penetrating radar and drills capable of digging deep into the Martian surface. These tools will provide even more information about the subsurface ice, potentially offering clues to Mars's watery past and its potential as a human habitat.
In conclusion, the discovery of massive ice sheets on Mars opens up new avenues for research and exploration. As we continue to unveil the Red Planet's secrets, one can only wonder what other surprises Mars has in store for us. What do you think about this incredible discovery? Share your thoughts and join the conversation about Mars's icy past and future.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook