Do you know scientists weren’t sure why pee is yellow till 2024?
Yup ― they’d some concept the hue came from a substance known as urobilin, however had no clue how that colour-enhancing acid ended up in our urine.
It appears Mars is one other such chromatic case. Till not too long ago, scientists had theories which might clarify the planet’s rust-red hue ― they thought a dry, powdery substance known as hematite coated our neighbours’ floor.
However a paper printed in Nature Communications yesterday means that the iron oxide mineral isn’t really chargeable for Mars’ scarlet haze.
So… why is Mars actually pink?
It’s nonetheless all the way down to iron-based sources, researchers from Brown College and the College of Bernsuggest ― that might clarify its rusty look.
However they assume that ferrihydrite, moderately than hematite, may very well be the principle mineral.
That issues as a result of it implies the local weather on Mars is extra moist, and probably extra liveable, than beforehand thought, NASA says.
Not like hematite, ferrihydrite (catch the “hydr-” in its title) needs cool water to kind.
It additionally wants a decrease temperature than the one which researchers beforehand thought was current on Mars.
Dr Adam Valantinas, the examine’s lead creator, said: “The basic query of why Mars is pink has been thought-about for tons of if not for 1000’s of years.”
And whereas they’re not the primary crew to counsel that ferrihydrite could be guilty, they’ll “higher take a look at this utilizing observational information and novel laboratory strategies” than their predecessors.
“These new findings level to a probably liveable previous on Mars,” Dr Geronimo Villanueva, the examine’s co-author, shared.
Does that imply there was undoubtedly water, and perhaps life, on Mars?
No. The researchers solely assume ferrihydrite is why Mars is pink, and although they used very superior expertise to look at and mannequin the planet’s floor, it’s nonetheless unproven.
“What’s much more essential… is the return of the samples from Mars which can be being collected proper now by the Perseverance rover,” Dr Jack Mustard, co-author of the examine, said.
“After we get these again, we are able to really test and see if that is proper.”
