Chinese findings on Mars suggest water existed for longer on planet's surface
 

Chinese findings on Mars suggest water existed for longer on planet's surface
By: Reuters News - 05-12-22
Re: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sc...ce-2022-05-12/

Photo link: https://www.reuters.com/resizer/4Z9T...ZUYAGE22YM.jpg
A screen broadcasts a CCTV state media news bulletin, showing an image of Mars taken by Chinese Mars rover Zhurong as part of the Tianwen-1 mission, in Beijing, China, May 19, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo/File Photo
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[Note: The earlier report: China says Martian rover takes first drive on surface of Red Planet - By Ryan Woo and Yilei Sun
Re: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sc...t-2021-05-22/]
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BEIJING, May 12 (Reuters) - Hydrated minerals discovered by China's robotic rover on Mars in a vast basin believed to be the site of an ancient ocean suggest water was present on the planet's surface for longer than previously thought, said Chinese scientists.

According to an analysis of data sent back by the rover, Zhurong, signs of water were detected in sampled minerals from just 700 million years ago, the scientists said in a paper published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.

Mars is believed to have been wet until about 3 billion years ago, when the planet's second geological age, known as the Hesperian Epoch, ended. In the current Amazonian period, there is no surface water.

The soil containing the minerals Zhurong sampled had a hard crust that could have been formed by rising ground water or melted ice that had since evaporated, the Chinese scientists wrote.

The Chinese rover has been exploring the vast plain of Utopia Planitia since its landing on the planet in May last year. Zhurong has travelled about 2 kilometres from its landing site as it gathers data on the terrain.

In recent years, data from an orbiting probe operated by the European Space Agency had discovered water under the ice of the planet's south pole.

Almost all of the water on Mars is locked in its polar ice caps, with very small traces in the planet's thin atmosphere.

Locating subsurface water is key to determining the planet's potential for life, as well as providing a permanent resource for any human exploration.

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BEIJING, May 12 (Reuters) - Hydrated minerals discovered by China's robotic rover on Mars in a vast basin believed to be the site of an ancient ocean suggest water was present on the planet's surface for longer than previously thought, said Chinese scientists.

According to an analysis of data sent back by the rover, Zhurong, signs of water were detected in sampled minerals from just 700 million years ago, the scientists said in a paper published on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.

Mars is believed to have been wet until about 3 billion years ago, when the planet's second geological age, known as the Hesperian Epoch, ended. In the current Amazonian period, there is no surface water.

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Personal note: It amazes me that 'we humans' regardless of race - can do remarkable
things. Yet we can not live together it seems because primarily our idiology. Imagine
if we could all work together for the betterment of mankind - rather then weaponize
our planet with nuclear devices of which will destroy us all. Our inability to agree
with each other results in a combant end result in most cases.
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Sure as hell I would presume that when we do leave this planet and go to others
- the same will take place overtime as well.
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The people's of this planet have got to find a common denominator that will
encompass the whole not just the few.
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I can interact with different races but it takes a little time to desensitize ones
attitude and not so much to the indifferences of our societies. Until we do that
we seem to conflict with one another. Because of personal inscurities. No one
is perfect - but anatomically - we are the same - for now!
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[What was the old addage 'all men our brother's under their skin' - and yet
some reply - well fine go back under your skin and send your brother out.
It's these initial results that cause us harm and waring amongst outselves.
Here again - I'm just giving you my uptake on our inter-societal interactions
based on one physical and/or language indifferences - not their inner soul's.]
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We still need to work on these issues even today! Sorry to say!