【Science Fiction Movies | Adult Movies Online】

While rumbling over Mount Sharp on Science Fiction Movies | Adult Movies OnlineMars, NASA's Curiosity rover found a strange crackled terrain.

These distinct patterns in dry mud, found over 100 million miles away in space, are a thrilling discovery for geologists. The cracks form a lattice of hexagons, signaling that the land has gone through intermittent spells of wetness and dryness. Many scientists credit these environmental shifts with prompting the chemical reactions needed to create microorganisms on Earth.

Of course, scientists have already found ample evidence that Mars could have supported life long ago. But these new geological findings are something quite different, experts say. They reveal the environmental conditions that could have allowed life to emerge on the Red Planet in the first place.

---

You May Also Like

---

---

And to think this major breakthrough was all made possible by looking between the cracks — literally.

"This is the first tangible evidence we’ve seen that the ancient climate of Mars had such regular, Earth-like wet-dry cycles," said William Rapin of France’s Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie in a statement. "But even more important is that wet-dry cycles are helpful — maybe even required — for the molecular evolution that could lead to life."

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

SEE ALSO: How Mars rovers could explore vast uncharted caves

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

A team of researchers including lead author Rapin has published a paper in Naturedescribing how this peculiar mesh of cracks offers the first evidence of wet-dry cycles occurring on ancient Mars.

"Wet-dry cycles are helpful — maybe even required — for the molecular evolution that could lead to life."

Curiosity found the mud cracks while exploring a transitional zone of rock between a layer that was rich in clay and another chock full of salty substances called sulfates. Clay minerals tend to form in water, and sulfates form as it evaporates. This intermediate zone preserves a moment in time when lakes and rivers in the Gale Crater, where Mount Sharp stands, began to recede, according to the research.

Scientists say the cracks form a lattice of hexagons, showing that the land has gone through intermittent spells of wetness and dryness. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS /IRAP

As the mud dries, it shrinks and breaks apart into T shapes. When moisture returns, those patterns soften again, deforming the Ts into Ys that connect to create hexagons. New sediment deposited into the area kept forming new hexagons, geologists say. Curiosity found a salty crust along the edges of the cracks that prevented them from eroding, which explains how these patterns could survive for billions of years.

Want more scienceand tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newslettertoday.

---

Related Stories

---

• Yes, Mars is spinning faster. Here's what NASA found.
• Mars isn't as red as you might have thought
• How Mars rovers could explore vast uncharted caves
• NASA rover finds clear evidence of ancient waves, yes waves, on Mars
• An enormous Martian cloud returns every spring. Scientists found out why.

As mud dries, it shrinks and breaks apart into T shapes. When moisture returns, those patterns soften again, deforming the Ts into Ys that connect to create hexagons. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

Scientists don't know for sure how life started on Earth, but one strong theory suggests the shifting back and forth between wet and dry conditions helped bring together the ingredients for microbes: simple, primitive living things. Among those first molecules of biology are carbon-based polymers, including nucleic acids.

Earth's tectonic plates, which Mars lacks, churn the surface of the planet, so examples of its early history are erased. Scientists are eager to study the Martian mud cracks to get better insight not just into the Red Planet but perhaps even the recipe for life on Earth, too.

"It’s pretty lucky of us to have a planet like Mars nearby that still holds a memory of the natural processes which may have led to life," Rapin said.

• Deals
• Social Good
• Entertainment
• Digital Culture
• Life
• Shopping
• Science
• Tech

• The fat bears are already extremely fat
• 6 legendary women who deserve to be Disney princesses
• Here's how to stop those annoying Gmail 'Nudges'
• 'American Horror Story' Season 8: Everything we know
• 10 Tech Predictions for 2017
• Rescue puppy's delightfully weird portraits scream 'adopt me'
• The Colorado River is evaporating, and climate change is a big culprit
• How 'Harry Potter' helped me understand British politics
• NYT Strands hints, answers for April 26
• Sorry, Notorious RBG, your common sense was MIA

• Seattle becomes 2nd U.S. city to guarantee Lyft and Uber drivers a minimum wage
• iPhone users can use Live View in Google Maps to better share locations
• Lost teddy bear goes on an adventure before being reunited with 4
• Starbucks trends happen so fast, this girl decided to make one up to prank her friends
• Amazon warehouse workers' injuries spike around Prime Day. Happy shopping.
• 10 better things to do than subtweet a female writer on the internet
• Amazon wants to copy your palm for contactless payment. Don't do it.
• Uber wins appeal, can continue operating in London
• The internet descends upon this super hot selfie of the Queen's former page boy
• 4 takeaways from Chris Wallace's surprise climate debate questions

• Musetti vs. Diallo 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
• BBC is really getting into 'slow radio' with a dedicated program
• YouPorn launches a 'sex zodiac' service for horoscope lovers
• French women are sharing photos of their body hair for a very good reason
• 'Thunderbolts*' mid
• Britain has its next prime minister to thank for mass surveillance bill
• There’s a ‘Hamilton’ Easter Egg in ‘Marvel’s Spider
• New Yorkers peel guns off 'Jason Bourne' ads
• What's Thermal Throttling and How to Prevent It
• Katy Perry gives Calvin Harris a lesson on how to deal with Taylor Swift

• Get Rid of Windows 10 Ads, Office Offers and Other Annoyances
• Let Jenna Fischer make your day with a precious throwback pic from 'The Office'
• We guess you could display flowers in this suspiciously NSFW vase
• Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 11/9': Review
• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K deal: Get 40% off
• Lime just dropped some serious e
• Instagram adds personalized emoji shortcuts
• Naming Pokémon using autocorrect is an endlessly thrilling experience
• Amazon requires sellers to use more efficient packaging, or pay up
• Latinas hold only 2% of STEM jobs. These 5 women are working to fix that.