Credit: NASA/JPL/MSSS/The Murray Lab
Evidence of recent volcanic activity on Mars shows that eruptions could have taken place in the past 50,000 years, according to new study by researchers at the University of Arizona s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and the Planetary Science Institute.
Most volcanism on the Red Planet occurred between 3 and 4 billion years ago, with smaller eruptions in isolated locations continuing perhaps as recently as 3 million years ago. But, until now, there was no evidence to indicate Mars could still be volcanically active.
Using data from satellites orbiting Mars, researchers discovered a previously unknown volcanic deposit. They detail their findings in the paper Evidence for geologically recent explosive volcanism in Elysium Planitia, Mars, published in the journal
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Romania’s Bran Castle, widely believed to be the inspiration for the home of Dracula, held a vaccination drive and gave anyone showing up for a jab a free tour of the torture chamber. A request for two jabs to the neck got you an invite to come back after dark.
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autoevolution 7 May 2021, 12:57 UTC ·
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Although there is plenty of evidence that Mars has a volcanic past, it was thought to have quieted down long ago. Now, new observations reveal that an eruption could have taken place within the past 50,000 years, which indicates that the planet could still be volcanically active. This raises the possibility that it was recently, and perhaps it still is, a habitable place for microbes. 1 photo
It s no secret that the Red Planet was the host of extreme volcanic activity in the past. Since the Mariner 9 mission in 1972, scientists have known that volcanic features cover a significant portion of the Martian floor. Volcanism peaked between 3 and 4 billion years ago, with smaller eruptions occurring as early as 3 million years ago in remote areas. However, until now, we had no proof that Mars was still volcanically active.
Volcanoes on Mars could be active â making planet recently habitable , claim experts
Eruptions could have taken place on the Red Planet in the past 50,000 years, according to a new study, meaning conditions for microbial life may have been in place fairly recently
19:12, 7 MAY 2021
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Scientists reviewed images of the Elysium Planitia region of the Red Planet
Within the images they spotted evidence of geologically recent volcanic activity
The team say this may be the youngest volcanic deposit documented on Mars
Previously found volcanic activity ranged from billions to millions of years old
They say this evidence absolutely raises the possibility that there could still be volcanic activity on Mars and the chance the subsurface is habitable