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gale

Curiosity has been exploring Mars since 2012, and has already traveled further than whatsoever other rover in history. Curiosity isn't done providing fascinating insights into the red planet, either. A new analysis of information from the rover indicates that its landing site in Gale Crater was once a lake that would take had the chapters to support a wide variety of life.

NASA has previously released information from Curiosity that supports the idea that liquid water once flowed in Gale Crater (above). Information technology has been drilling into rocks to written report the chemical composition as it moves ever to a higher place Mount Precipitous in the eye of the crater. It has discovered all the elements essential to life as nosotros know it, including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorous.

The new report is based on a detailed assay of data from three and a half years of drill samples from Curiosity. This has allowed scientists to understand the chemic surround of a lake that hasn't existed for billions of years. Mountain Sharp is an ideal place to conduct this testing, as NASA believes it's the event of stone and sediment being carried there over time by rivers and streams.

Researchers at present say that Curiosity's information shows testify of varying exposure to oxygen in the by. Some sediment samples were nearly the surface of the lake, and were more oxygenated. Meanwhile, other samples show lower oxygen exposure, indicating they were buried more than deeply. Some microorganisms on World live in depression-oxygen environments, but most need oxygen in the environment (and the chemic reactions that come with it) to survive. So, there'due south expert show at this signal that Gale Crater would take had everything necessary for life in its past. The varying chemical environments could have provided a dwelling house to a many unlike types of microorganisms.

A drill hole made by Curiosity on Mars.

The review of Curiosity'due south information also offered more insights into the climate of Mars. Information technology's long been understood that Mars was warmer and wetter in the afar by, but there may have been some other common cold and dry period before that. The older sediments scanned by the rover showed less testify of amending than younger samples. That suggests that they were formed in an environs more similar the electric current Mars than the "moisture" version.

As Marvel continues to climb upward, it will have the opportunity to analyze more layers of ancient sediment. This data, along with more detailed analysis from the upcoming Mars 2020 rover could make the Martian past much clearer.