With a major research university right in our backyard, a strong military presence and innovative companies throughout the metro region, thereâs often a plethora of interesting science and technology news to be found in Southern Arizona. Hereâs a breakdown of the most interesting recent developments.
Â
Design Day. Senior students in the University of Arizona’s College of Engineering recently presented their longtime projects for the college’s annual Craig M. Berge Design Day. Unlike previous years, for 2021 the 99 student teams presented their projects over video. But similar to previous years, multiple student teams took home large awards for this work. This year, more than $46,000 was awarded to various student teams working with industry and university sponsors. The winners of the $7,500 Craig M. Berge Dean’s Award for Most Outstanding Project created a “solar-powered, autonomous rover” to monitor Oso Grande, which is Tucson Electric Power’s wind turbine
Volcanoes could still be active on Mars, new research suggests
The barren landscape of Mars makes the planet seem like a quiet, frozen desert where nothing has happened for billions of years except for the occasional dust storm.
New research, however, suggests that the red planet has a more recent history of activity - and it could still be volcanically active.
Scientists still are trying to understand the history of Mars, and NASA rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance can help uncover evidence to piece together the planet s time line.
READ MORE:
The Mars Ingenuity helicopter, right, flies over the surface of the planet on Friday, April 30, 2021. (AP)
Posted: May 14, 2021 1:57 PM ET | Last Updated: May 14
Recent explosive volcanic deposit discovered around a fissure of the Cerberus Fossae system. It s located only 10 kilometres from the youngest large-impact crater on Mars, so the researchers speculate if the impact might have actually triggered the eruption. (NASA / JPL / MSSS / The Murray Lab)
A recent study of a fissure on the surface of Mars reveals what looks like volcanic activity as recently as 50,000 years ago. This could mean that warm magma beneath the surface, and groundwater we suspect is there, could provide a habitat for alien life.
This raises the question, if Mars has indigenous life, should humans go there?
Volcanoes could still be active on Mars
The barren landscape of Mars makes the planet seem like a quiet, frozen desert where nothing has happened for billions of years except for the occasional dust storm.
New research, however, suggests that the red planet has a more recent history of activity and it could still be volcanically active.
Scientists still are trying to understand the history of Mars, and NASA rovers like Curiosity and Perseverance can help uncover evidence to piece together the planet’s time line.
Mars was once much wetter and warmer than it is today about 4 billion years ago. Something happened to cause the planet to lose its atmosphere and send its water beneath the surface about 3 billion years ago but the cause remains a mystery.
Life on Mars? Volcanic Activity Indicates The Red Planet Was Recently Habitable
One researcher says the latest data points to the fact that Mars isn t dead.
Though Mars most volcanic period is thought to have occurred between 3 and 4 billion years ago, researchers from the University of Arizona s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and the Planetary Science Institute said they have uncovered evidence showing the red planet might still be volcanically active today.
If this were the case, microbial life may have existed relatively recently in certain regions, giving future Mars missions an indication of where to look in the continued pursuit for evidence of life on the planet.