“The Truth is in the Sand”

     On June 30^th 2016, while the Mar’s Rover was roaming around the planet, it stumbled upon curvy sand ripples that have never been found anywhere else. The ripples were not just on Mars for decoration; they provided some interesting facts about the planet’s early life. The sand dunes on Mars provided us with tangible evidence that the planet lost most of its atmospheric layers early in its existence. But how does this relate to biological systems you may ask?

     The sand dunes and ripples on Mars are also found on Earth. However, there are multiple differences between the characteristics of the sand ripples found on Mars and on Earth. The sand ripples found on Earth are less than a foot apart while the sand ripples found on Mars are about 10 feet apart. The ripples on Earth are formed by sand grains, which collide with other sand grains due to the wind. But, the larger sand ripples found on Mars are made by the wind dragging the sand particles. This mechanism is the same way water drags sand on Earth. In addition, smaller sand ripples lie under the larger ripples. These smaller sand ripples are much like the ripples found on Earth. The distinction of the sand ripples is due to a smaller density in Mar’s present atmosphere. In conclusion to these differences, researchers believe that the atmosphere on Mars was thicker in the past causing the smaller sand ripples. This thicker atmosphere can lead to an investigation whether there was life on Mars during the beginning of its existence.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

Sources: http://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-rovers-sand-dune-studies-yield-surprise

Biology Group: Charles Rivero, Valentina Gamboa, Sabrina Lima.