Researchers reveal widespread, hardworking water on ancient Mars

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This three-dimensional image of a trough in the Nili Fossae region of Mars shows phyllosilcates (in magenta and blue hues) concentrated on the slopes of mesas and along canyon walls. The abundance of phyllosilcates show that water played a sizable ro ...
This three-dimensional image of a trough in the Nili Fossae region of Mars shows phyllosilcates (in magenta and blue hues) concentrated on the slopes of mesas and along canyon walls. The abundance of phyllosilcates show that water played a sizable role in changing the minerals of a variety of terrains in Mars's early history. Credit: NASA/JPL/JHUAPL/University of Arizona/Brown University

(PhysOrg.com) -- For decades, scientists have theorized – romanticized, even – that Mars has harbored water. The evidence has grown stronger as recent missions to the Red Planet have revealed in stunning detail Martian topography, mineralogy and clues to past climate. But how much water, where it was or is located and what it was doing have been hard to pin down.


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All News summaries for July 16, 2008

NASA study finds rising Arctic storm activity sways sea ice, climate

10 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
A new NASA study shows that the rising frequency and intensity of arctic storms over the last half century, attributed to progressively warmer waters, directly provoked acceleration of the rate of arctic sea ice drift, long ...

Lichens function as indicators of nitrogen pollution in forests

11 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
Scientists have found lichens can give insight into nitrogen air pollution effects on Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino mountain ecosystems, and protecting them provides safeguards for less sensitive species.

NASA spacecraft ready to explore outer solar system

12 hours ago | User rating: not rated yet
The first NASA spacecraft to image and map the dynamic interactions taking place where the hot solar wind slams into the cold expanse of space is ready for launch Oct. 19. The two-year mission will begin from ...

University professor stresses links between US Navy sonar and whale strandings

Oct 06, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a series of lower court rulings that restrict the Navy's use of sonar in submarine detection training exercises off the coast of Southern California. The court ...

India to launch unmanned lunar mission this month

Oct 06, 2008 | User rating: not rated yet
India will launch its first lunar mission on October 22 from southern India, a top official from the country's space agency said Monday.