Content Warning
BREAKING:
Scientists announce that the processes which created the "poppy seeds" and "leopard spots" features #Perseverance encountered at Bright Angel were most likely biological metabolisms.
That's as close to announcing ancient life found on Mars as it has ever been
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2025/pdf/2133.pdf
Images:
• Annotated excerpt from the paper (h/t @sharponlooker )
• "leopard spots" seen at the Cheyava Falls rock
• "poppy seed" animation of the abrasion at the Walhalla Glades field
Composit SHERLOC_WATSON and SHERLOC_ACI rendering of the "leopard spots" seen on the Cheyava Falls rock, Sol 1201, RMC 55.0000
Annotated excerpt from the paper:
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CONSTRAINTS ON BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FORMATION MECHANISMS OF “POPPY SEEDS” AND “LEOPARD SPOTS” IN THE BRIGHT ANGEL FORMATION, NERETVA VALLIS, MARS.
by
• M. M. Tice, Dept. of Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
• J. A. Hurowitz, Dept. of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
• A. P. Broz, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
• M. W. M. Jones, School of Chemistry & Physics and Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
• N. Randazzo, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
