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mars curiosity

Scientists announced last week that information from Mars rover Curiosity makes the idea of liquid water on or near the Red Planet’s surface a real possibility, not just science fiction.

In its journey across the Gale Crater, Curiosity has analyzed soil samples, and found that they contain calcium percholate, a type of salt. As many of you who have lived through wintry conditions may know, putting salt on ice lowers the freezing point of the water so it melts back into a liquid state. Similarly, on Mars, water vapor in the atmosphere freezes at night and condenses on the planet surface as frost, but coming into contact with the calcium percholate changes the freezing point, allowing the water to melt.

mars

Despite this finding, life on Mars remains firmly in the realm of science fiction, as there is little enough of this water and other conditions would not allow for life as we know it to exist.

 

Jay Scarlet is a part-time librarian/writer and full-time geek. Follow him on Twitter @jayscarlet42

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Jay Scarlet