this panorama was stitched together from 141 images after they were sent to Earth Dark rover tracks recede into the distance in the center of the scene The discovery of siderite may help solve one of Mars' mysteries: There is strong evidence that liquid water coursed over the planet's surface billions of years ago carbon-rich atmosphere rather than the wispy one it has today (a thicker carbon dioxide atmosphere is required to provide enough pressure and warmth for water to remain liquid on a planet's surface; otherwise it rapidly vaporizes or freezes – which is the case on Mars today) That carbon dioxide and water should have reacted with Martian rocks to create carbonate minerals when scientists study the planet with satellites that ample carbonate hasn't been apparent – even at Curiosity's site It's possible that other minerals may be masking carbonate from satellite near-infrared analysis If other such layers across Mars also contain hidden carbonates the amount of stored carbon dioxide would be part of that needed in the ancient atmosphere to create conditions warm enough to support liquid water The rest could be hidden in other deposits or have been lost to space over time Curiosity was built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL leads the mission on behalf of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington For more about Curiosity, visit: science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity Curiosity on the Road to Boxwork Formations Curiosity Looks Downslope From the Sulfate Unit Curiosity Takes a Last Look at Sulfur Stones Curiosity's View Within Gediz Vallis Channel Curiosity Makes Rover Tracks While Heading West Related TopicsQUIZZES. News. NASA’s Juno Mission Gets Under Jupiter’s and Io’s Surface News. NASA Orbiter Spots Curiosity Rover Making Tracks to Next Science Stop News. NASA’s EZIE Mission Captures ‘First Light’ News. NASA’s Curiosity Rover May Have Solved Mars’ Missing Carbonate Mystery News. NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover Studies Trove of Rocks on Crater Rim Video. Meet the Mars Samples: Sapphire Canyon (Sample 25) News. NASA’s Juno Back to Normal Operations After Entering Safe Mode A surprise discovery in Gale Crater is the component that was missing in the puzzle of Mars's climate history There, embedded in the bedrock, the Curiosity rover has identified a mineral called siderite that can only have formed from the precipitation of carbon from the Martian atmosphere It's the first in situ evidence of the carbon cycle on Mars and it represents an important clue about whether or not the red planet could ever have supported life "It tells us that the planet was habitable and that the models for habitability are correct," says geochemist Benjamin Tutolo of the University of Calgary in Canada In order to be warm and stable enough for this liquid water, the atmosphere of Mars would have needed a significant amount of carbon dioxide, belched into the sky by the active volcanoes that were once rampant on the surface Much of this carbon dioxide would have leaked out into space but enough would have remained to warm Mars and leave traces in the minerals on the surface "Models predict that carbonate minerals should be widespread rover-based investigations and satellite-based orbital surveys of the Martian surface have found little evidence of their presence," Tutolo told ScienceAlert The shock new discovery was found in data from 2022 and 2023, when the Curiosity rover, which has been beavering around Gale Crater for more than 10 years now, made X-ray diffraction analyses of minerals from different parts of the crater floor using its Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument Tutolo and his colleagues carefully analyzed the measurements made by Curiosity and found remarkably pure crystalline siderite in three of the four drill holes bored by Curiosity mostly composed of iron and carbon trioxide "We were surprised to find carbonate minerals here because even the most detailed investigations of the orbital spectroscopy data acquired over these sedimentary rocks were unable to identify carbonate minerals," Tutolo said "It turns out that the presence of other minerals – particularly highly water-soluble magnesium sulfate salts – likely masks the signature of carbonate minerals in the orbital data Because similar rocks containing these salts have been identified globally likely contain abundant carbonate minerals." not only does the discovery finally pony up the carbonate minerals scientists expected to find it reveals why scientists have been unable to find them previously and how to look for more of them across the red planet The siderite identified in Curiosity data helps confirm and refine models of Mars's early warm period It confirms that carbon dioxide was abundant in the Martian atmosphere and helped keep the planet warm enough for water; and that carbon was extracted from the atmosphere and trapped in minerals on the surface while good news for scientists studying Mars today was part of the end of an era for Mars itself "The important feature of the ancient Martian carbon cycle that we outline in this study is that it was imbalanced substantially more CO2 seems to have been sequestered into the rocks than was subsequently released back into the atmosphere," Tutolo explained "Because Mars is further away from the Sun than Earth it needs substantially more CO2 in its atmosphere to maintain habitable conditions The observation that geochemical processes were capturing and sequestering that CO2 suggests that this imbalanced carbon cycle may have challenged Mars's ability to remain habitable." Now that scientists know that siderite is effectively invisible to orbital instruments they can go back over previous data and look for strange signs of its presence they may have overlooked rover-collected data may have more evidence of carbonate minerals Now that researchers know mineral carbon sequestration took place on Mars they can incorporate this information into models of the planet's climate history this capture played in the decline of Mars's habitability have opened up a whole new way of understanding Mars "I was trained as an aqueous geochemist and spent much of my career to date working on carbon sequestration as a solution for human-driven climate change Working alongside the exceptionally talented and diverse expertise of the Mars Science Laboratory team I was ultimately able to apply the knowledge I have gained from my climate change solutions work to interpret these mineralogical observations," Tutolo said if you told me about all of this when I was 15 The findings have been published in Science Advances carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water which reacted with rocks to form carbonate minerals missions and spectroscopy have found less carbonate than expected As the Curiosity rover climbs Mount Sharp in Gale Crater it examines rocks from different time periods A new study analyzing drill samples from a sulfate-rich layer found siderite The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale Crater could provide new insights into Mars’ geologic and atmospheric history Researchers analyzed an 89-meter section of Gale Crater using data from the Curiosity rover finding siderite in amounts ranging from 4.8 to 10.5 weight percent Scientists believe the siderite formed under water-limited conditions driven by water-rock interactions and evaporation processes shedding light on Mars’ past environment The carbonates discovered in Gale Crater have partially decomposed releasing some carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere hinting at an ancient carbon cycle on Mars This finding suggests that carbonate minerals beneath the surface may be hidden by other minerals making them difficult to detect through near-infrared satellite analysis If similar sulfate-rich layers across Mars also contain carbonates the total stored carbon dioxide would only account for a fraction of what was needed to create a warm water-friendly atmosphere in the planet’s past The remaining carbon dioxide might be concealed in other deposits or have escaped into space over time © 2025 All Rights Reserved, Tech Explorist® The discovery of a mineral called siderite at a site nicknamed “Ubajara” may help solve the mystery of what happened to the Red Planet’s carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere according to new findings from the Curiosity Mars rover mission managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena Researchers have long theorized that Mars once had a thick carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water on its surface the carbon dioxide and water should have reacted with Martian rocks to create substantial carbonate mineral deposits rover missions and near-infrared spectroscopy analysis from Mars-orbiting satellites hadn’t detected the predicted quantities of carbonate on the planet’s surface A study published in April in the journal Science reports that data from three of Curiosity’s drill sites revealed the presence of siderite within the sulfate-rich rocky layers of Mount Sharp in Mars’ Gale Crater “The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale Crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars,” said Benjamin Tutolo assistant professor at the University of Calgary To study the Martian chemical and mineral composition Curiosity drills approximately 1.2-1.6 inches (3-4 centimeters) into the subsurface then delivers the powdered rock samples to its Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley uses X-ray diffraction to analyze the samples CheMin’s data was subsequently processed and analyzed by scientists at the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston “Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book,” said Thomas Bristow research scientist at NASA Ames and coauthor of the paper “Just a few centimeters down gives us a good idea of the minerals that formed at or close to the surface around 3.5 billion years ago.” The discovery of this carbonate mineral beneath the surface suggests that carbonates may be masked by other minerals in near-infrared satellite observations If other sulfate-rich layers across Mars also contain carbonates the amount of stored carbon dioxide would be a fraction of that needed in the ancient atmosphere to create conditions warm enough to support liquid water The remainder could be hidden in other deposits or have been lost to space over time Future missions or analyses of other sulfate-rich areas on Mars could confirm these findings and help us better understand the planet’s early history and how it transformed as its atmosphere was lost part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program JPL leads the mission on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington The rover has been exploring Gale Crater since its landing in August 2012 More » The ‘Humming-Byrd’ House: A Mid-Century Storybook Ranch Surrounded by Nature Pasadena Now has been published daily since April 2004 and is among the very oldest continuously operated community news websites in the U.S Pasadena Now strives to publish a full spectrum of news and information articles in service to the entire community The publication will remain free to readers and will not erect paywalls Copyright © 2025. Pasadena Now | Terms of - Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds offer another way to get Pasadena Now content Subscribe to our feeds to get the latest headlines summaries and links back to full articles – formatted for your favorite feed reader and updated throughout the day NASA’s Curiosity rover has found evidence of a carbon cycle on ancient Mars bringing scientists closer to an answer on whether the planet was ever capable of supporting life Curiosity sees its tracks receding into the distance at a site nicknamed Ubajara on April 30 2023; this site is where the rover made the discovery of siderite Planetary researchers have long believed that Mars once had a thick carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and liquid water on the planet’s surface rover missions and near-infrared spectroscopy analysis from Mars-orbiting satellites haven’t found the amounts of carbonate on the planet’s surface predicted by this theory “We are ultimately trying to determine whether Mars was ever capable of supporting life – and our latest paper brings us closer to an answer,” said lead author Dr “It tells us that the planet was habitable and that the models for habitability are correct.” Tutolo and his colleagues analyzed the composition of an 89-m stratigraphic section of Gale crater — which once contained an ancient lake They identified an iron carbonate mineral called siderite in high concentrations — ranging from approximately 5% to over 10% by weight — within magnesium sulfate-rich layers because orbital measurements had not detected carbonates in these layers the researchers infer that the siderite formed by water-rock reactions and evaporation indicating that carbon dioxide was chemically sequestered from the Martian atmosphere into the sedimentary rocks If the mineral composition of these sulfate layers is representative of sulfate-rich regions globally The carbonates have been partially destroyed by later processes indicating that some of the carbon dioxide was later returned to the atmosphere “The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars,” Dr “Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book,” added co-author Dr a researcher at NASA’s Ames Research Center “Just a few centimeters down gives us a good idea of the minerals that formed at or close to the surface around 3.5 billion years ago.” The findings appear in the journal Science Carbonates identified by the Curiosity rover indicate a carbon cycle operated on ancient Mars Science 388 (6744): 292-297; doi: 10.1126/science.ado9966 Ancient Mars had surface liquid water and a dense carbon dioxide (CO2)–rich atmosphere Such an atmosphere would interact with crustal rocks potentially leaving a mineralogical record of its presence We analyzed the composition of an 89-meter stratigraphic section of Gale crater using data collected by the Curiosity rover occurs in abundances of 4.8 to 10.5 weight % We infer that the siderite formed in water-limited conditions driven by water-rock reactions and evaporation Comparison with orbital data indicates that similar strata (deposited globally) sequestered the equivalent of 2.6 to 36 millibar of atmospheric CO2 The presence of iron oxyhydroxides in these deposits indicates that a partially closed carbon cycle on ancient Mars returned some previously sequestered CO2 to the atmosphere (A) Stratigraphic column indicating elevations and sedimentological interpretations of the 89-m vertical section traversed by the rover and member designate the sedimentary units Black circles indicate drill sample locations: CA Vertical thick lines extend between sample elevations where Mg-sulfate minerals (solid line) and siderite (dashed line) have been detected (B) Orbital optical image mosaic of Gale crater overlain with Curiosity’s traverse (white line) up Mt Member (mbr) boundaries correspond to the section in (A) The difference between ChemCam observation points and the median Chenapau bedrock composition (19) is plotted as colored circles (as indicated in the color bar) at locations where ChemCam analyses were performed Chenapau member chemistry is homogeneous and closely resembles the chemistry of the upper section of the Amapari member Carbonates identified by the Curiosity rover indicate a carbon cycle operated on ancient Mars ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran An official website of the United States government Latest Earthquakes Ken Herkenhoff shares the tactical planning work he and others are doing as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory rover mission Set eyes on a foreign world through the lenses of multiple cameras onboard the Curiosity rover and explore and study the Martian landscape along with us Tactical planning started an hour and a half later than usual this morning because we had to wait for better-illuminated Navcam images of the Ubajara block seen at bottom center in this image:  The Rover Planners needed these better images to determine whether the Ubajara target can be brushed using the DRT and promptly confirmed that they are GO for brushing!  This was good news because the MSL science team agreed that MAHLI images and APXS chemical data will be useful in deciding whether or not to drill at Ubajara.  So the Sol 3819 plan is focused on contact science Mastcam will take a multispectral observation of the brushed spot and Navcam will search for dust devils.  Then ChemCam will get busy first shooting its laser at the brushed spot and finally taking a long-distance RMI mosaic of part of the Chenapau hill.  Mastcam will then document the LIBS spots on Ubajara and measure the amount of dust above the rover.  The rover will take a well-earned nap before waking up for an overnight measurement of atmospheric chemistry that should be very helpful in analyzing the ChemCam passive sky spectra.  It was a busy planning day for me as SOWG Chair and I'm glad that we were able to fit all of these activities into the power-constrained plan These items are in the RSS feed format (Really Simple Syndication) based on categories such as topics You can install and RSS reader browser extension or use a third-party service to receive immediate news updates depending on the feed that you have added they may look strange because they are simply XML code An RSS reader can easily read this code and push out a notification to you when something new is posted to our site Astrogeology Science Center News By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Animal behavior researchers have released incredible video of pint-sized Capuchin monkeys using stone tools to forage for their food in Brazil's Ubajara National Park capturing the creatures' attempts to dig out food Researchers then split these cases into four methods 'stone-digging,' 'stick-probing,' and hybrid 'stone-stick' use — discovering that the monkeys changed up their habits based on seasonal weather and the right tools for the job The footage joins a growing number of studies looking into the tiny South American primate's use of stone and stick tools an emerging field that some research universities now describe as 'documenting the Monkey Stone Age in real-time.'  The new findings comes hot on the heels of other recent discoveries further revealing the intelligence of humanity's primate cousins, including one orangutan's impressive practice of healing its own injuries with a self-prepared medicinal herb. Animal behavior researchers have released incredible video of pint-sized Capuchin monkeys using stone tools to forage for their food in Brazil 's Ubajara National Park (video still above) The team recorded 214 cases in total, wherein the creatures attempted to dig food, like 'trapdoor' spiders, out from buried underground nests (video still above). They studied the monkeys' digging techniques and their strategic adaptations to local ecological conditions This understanding that South America's capuchins (which typically don't get much bigger than 22 inches, plus their 17-inch long tails) use tools just like their larger primate relatives has emerged only gradually since the mid-2000s. In 2004, botanist Alicia Ibáñez noted in passing on her book about plant life that white-faced capuchin monkeys used rocks to bust open sea almonds and shellfish. Her discovery on the islands of Panama's Coiba National Park soon inspired scientists with the University of California, Davis to study these capuchins themselves. 'Those islands are the only place in the world where this particular species of monkey is known to use stone tools,' according to UC, Davis primate researcher Meredith Carlson 'It's really concentrated in two little populations.' animal psychologists at the University of São Paulo in Brazil would make a similar discovery in the dry savanna of their nation's Serra da Capivara National Park The Beard Capuchin species there, they reported in their 2009 paper would 'habitually modify and use sticks as probes to dip for honey and expel prey (such as lizards and scorpions) from rock crevices and trunks.' And now the latest study, published in Scientific Reports this May expands the terrain these capuchin monkeys excavate for food to the wetter savanna regions of another Brazilian national preserve: Ubajara National Park University of São Paulo researchers with the Capuchin Culture Project devoted 21 months to observing and taping capuchins there hard at work digging for food the researchers observed that bearded capuchins used 'smaller and lighter' rocks 'made of sandstone materials' (samples pictured above) when compared to 'the pounding tools used for palm nut cracking' which were heavier rocks They also observed that the monkeys used sandstone tools during 59 percent of digging attempts on hills (as seen above) but only 24 percent of digging attempts along riverbanks - suggesting an awareness that the soft damp dirt was easier on their tiny monkey paws the researchers observed that these bearded capuchins used 'smaller and lighter' rocks 'made of sandstone materials'  when compared to 'the pounding tools used for palm nut cracking.' The average weight of their sandstone digging tools came to about 4.5 ounces compared to about 2.5 pounds for their palm nut-cracking rocks — suggesting a concerted strategy on what 'tool' might work best for each case The team also observed that the monkeys used sandstone tools during 59 percent of digging attempts on hills but only 24 percent of digging attempts along riverbanks 'We predict that capuchin monkeys use hands-only in looser soil,' the researchers wrote 'and stone-digging in compacted and tougher soil.' we also hypothesize that capuchin monkeys actively choose stone tool positions,' they added 'and that this increases efficiency when digging in tough soil.' which the researchers observed on 40 documented occasions 32 instances were specifically for raiding spider burrows While the monkeys were successful in only 42.5 percent of their stick-poking attempts the researchers noted that the stick probing appeared to involve complex reasoning and skill one monkey pokes with a leaf-covered stick in an effort to obtain and eat a spider  While the monkeys were successful in only 42.5 percent of their stick-poking attempts 'Adult males sometimes hold the probe in one hand and place the other hand on the side of the burrow,' the researchers wrote 'apparently to prevent the spider from falling and running away.'  The scientists — whose work for the University of São Paulo was conducted in partnership with Germany's Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and its Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology — noted similar complexity in the 'stone-stick' tactic The capuchins first used the stone to scrape away surface dirt reducing the depth of spider burrows to make their stick-probing work easier and more effective The monkeys then used the sticks to extract spiders and their protein-rich egg sacs While the monkeys were successful in only 42.5 percent of their stick-poking attempts (second from left above) the team noted that the stick-probing appeared to involve complex reasoning and skill the use of tools did not appear to improve their ability to get food Capuchin monkeys are an omnivorous species the researchers noted that the monkeys' use of tools did not actually appear to improve their ability to get at the food: The monkeys' success rate hovered at about 83 percent for both 'hands only' and 'stone-stick' cases And the monkeys' efforts with stones and sticks separately was just under half 'It is intriguing that the use of tools did not increase overall success in obtaining underground food resources,' the researchers said But they noted that this might have only appeared that way because their study was not able to determine if the monkeys were specifically resorting to tools for other reasons 'to obtain larger resources' or 'to reduce the duration of excavation.' The comments below have not been moderated We are no longer accepting comments on this article The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group A recent discovery in Brazil’s Ubajara National Park is challenging our understanding of primate intelligence and tool use. Capuchin monkeys, long known for their cleverness, have been observed using tools found in their natural habitat to unearth hidden food sources.  This remarkable behavior, captured on video by researchers, showcases the intricate strategies and adaptability of these small primates.  By studying their tool use, scientists are gaining valuable insights into the evolution of cognitive abilities across species, potentially reshaping our understanding of the origins of tool use and intelligence In the depths of Brazil’s Ubajara National Park, pint-sized capuchin monkeys have been caught on camera putting on a masterclass in tool use. These clever critters aren’t just monkeying around; they’re strategically excavating underground nests to snag delicious trapdoor spiders Scientists recorded 214 instances of these monkeys showing off their digging prowess, using a variety of techniques: Capuchin monkeys sometimes rely solely on their paws to dig for food They use their hands to scrape and excavate the soil These monkeys select specific rocks to assist in digging lighter sandstone rocks to break up compacted soil increasing their efficiency in reaching underground food sources Capuchin monkeys use sticks as tools to reach into deep burrows They use the sticks to probe and extract food Capuchin monkeys combine the use of stones and sticks for digging They use a stone to break the surface soil making their tool use more effective and versatile These monkeys aren’t just clever; they’re adaptable too Researchers observed that capuchin monkeys altered their digging tactics based on the season and the available tools They showed an ability to select the appropriate tool for the conditions whether it was a dry summer day or a muddy monsoon season This adaptability highlights their intelligence and resourcefulness in varying environments The use of tools among capuchin monkeys isn’t a new discovery. Scientists have been documenting these “Monkey Stone Age” behaviors for a while now. In fact, it’s not just capuchins who are handy with tools; orangutans have also been observed using plants for medicinal purposes The discovery of tool use in capuchin monkeys dates back to 2004 when botanist Alicia Ibáñez observed white-faced capuchins using rocks to open sea almonds and shellfish in Panama’s Coiba National Park. Since then, similar behaviors have been observed in other capuchin species across South America For 21 months, researchers from the University of São Paulo closely observed these digging monkeys, documenting their every move. They found that the monkeys were quite picky about their tools, choosing lighter sandstone rocks for digging compared to the heavier rocks they use for cracking nuts “We predict that capuchin monkeys use hands-only in looser soil and stone-digging in compacted and tougher soil,” noted the researchers They also suggested that capuchin monkeys actively choose stone tool positions which increases efficiency when digging in tough soil The monkeys showed a preference for using sticks when raiding spider burrows, sometimes even using their free hand to block the burrow exit and prevent their prey from escaping “Adult males sometimes hold the probe in one hand and place the other hand on the side of the burrow apparently to prevent the spider from falling and running away,” explained the researchers the researchers found that using tools didn’t necessarily improve the monkeys’ success rate in obtaining food Whether they used tools or just their bare hands their success rate remained around 83 percent This raises the question: why use tools at all The researchers speculate that the monkeys might use tools to target larger prey or to reduce the time and effort required for digging Tools could help them access food that is harder to reach or requires more effort to obtain making their foraging process more efficient As researchers continue to study the complex behaviors of these clever capuchin monkeys, we’re getting a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of tool use and intelligence in primates.  It seems the Stone Age isn’t just for humans anymore; our primate cousins are proving that they too have a knack for using tools to get what they want This discovery raises intriguing questions about the origins of tool use and the cognitive abilities of animals. It’s a reminder that the animal kingdom is full of surprises, and there is still much to learn about our fellow creatures on this planet.  The research is published in the journal Scientific Reports Video Credit: Capuchin Culture Project in Scientific Reports (2024) Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for engaging articles Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com This also means there was an active carbon cycle on ancient Mars NASA’s Curiosity rover has uncovered a hidden chemical archive of ancient Mars’ atmosphere which suggests that large amounts of carbon dioxide have been locked into the planet’s crust according to a new Science study.Learn more in this week's issue: scim.ag/3Ed9kOl — Science Magazine (@science.org) 2025-04-17T18:05:19.279Z which are commonly found in sedimentary rocks on Earth The rover drilled four samples altogether in this area, at Canaima, Tapo Caparo, Ubajara and Sequoia. They were from different stratigraphic units representing transitions from the former lakebed to wind-blown environments. Curiosity then used its onboard CheMin instrument to analyze the samples The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars Co-author Thomas Bristow Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book Just a few centimeters down gives us a good idea of the minerals that formed at or close to the surface around 3.5 billion years ago So why weren’t the carbonate deposits first identified from orbit The researchers said that other minerals in the rocks probably masked them from view in the infrared images and data from the orbiters The analysis suggested that the siderite formed during interactions between water and rock, and evaporation. If so, that means the carbon dioxide was chemically sequestered – or absorbed – from the atmosphere and into the rocks. This would be a carbon cycle the carbon cycle involves carbon moving between the land most of Earth’s carbon is stored in rocks It also involves photosynthesis and microbial respiration and decomposition Whether that is also true for ancient Mars is still unknown Human-caused emissions of carbon also play a role on Earth The carbonates that Curiosity found are just in Gale crater. But if these carbonate-rich rock layers are widespread, then that would suggest the existence of a global carbon cycle on ancient Mars. The fact that there once were rivers and lakes – and even likely an ocean with beaches – on Mars billions of years ago would seem to support that scenario For that much water to have existed on the surface the atmosphere must have been thicker and warmer than it is today And it was most likely composed primarily of carbon dioxide according to the current scientific understanding of Mars’ past A global reservoir of carbonates would indicate that much of Mars’ early carbon dioxide became trapped in its rocks as the planet cooled and its atmosphere thinned Some of the carbon dioxide could also have escaped to space But most of it might have simply gone into the ground As details of Mars’ geochemistry are discovered through orbital and rover investigations around the planet additional clues are revealed about the diversity of potentially habitable environment then liquid water would have been possible on the surface And – at least on Earth – water is essential for life This would explain how Mars was able to have rivers Scientists suspected that the answer was more carbon dioxide the evidence for the leftover carbonates to prove it was scant But now it seems they might have finally been found Bottom line: The Curiosity rover has found deposits of carbonates on Mars It’s evidence for an ancient carbon cycle and could explain what happened to Mars’ atmosphere Source: Carbonates identified by the Curiosity rover indicate a carbon cycle operated on ancient Mars Source: Catching a glimpse of ancient Mars Via NASA Via American Association for the Advancement of Science/ EurekAlert! Read more: Mars rover Curiosity heads for intriguing ‘spiderwebs’ Read more: Martian rock crushed by Curiosity hides a surprise! We invite you to visit our campaign page to discover why we need your contributions now more than ever to preview an illustration from Guy Ottewell’s great book that we're helping finalize and to learn more about EarthSky’s history “Things are always so much more peaceful when looking up.” We couldn’t agree more we apologize for the popup and greatly appreciate your support New findings from NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover could provide an answer to the mystery of what happened to the planet’s ancient atmosphere and how Mars has evolved over time Researchers have long believed that Mars once had a thick Reported in an April paper in Science, data from three of Curiosity’s drill sites revealed the presence of siderite, an iron carbonate mineral, within the sulfate-rich rocky layers of Mount Sharp in Mars’ Gale Crater “The discovery of abundant siderite in Gale Crater represents both a surprising and important breakthrough in our understanding of the geologic and atmospheric evolution of Mars,” said Benjamin Tutolo From Mars to the Milky Way—never miss a discovery To study the Red Planet’s chemical and mineral makeup Curiosity drills 1.2-1.6 inches (3-4 centimeters) down into the subsurface then drops the powdered rock samples into its CheMin instrument led by NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley uses X-ray diffraction to analyze rocks and soil CheMin’s data was processed and analyzed by scientists at the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Division at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston “Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book,” said Thomas Bristow The discovery of this carbonate mineral in rocks beneath the surface suggests that carbonate may be masked by other minerals in near-infrared satellite analysis missions or analyses of other sulfate-rich areas on Mars could confirm these findings and help us better understand the planet’s early history and how it transformed as its atmosphere was lost part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program (MEP) portfolio was built by the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL leads the mission on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington https://science.nasa.gov/mission/msl-curiosity/ karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov andrew.c.good@jpl.nasa.gov Mars. Mars. Perseverance Rover Witnesses One Martian Dust Devil Eating Another Mars. How NASA’s Perseverance Is Helping Prepare Astronauts for Mars Mars. NASA’s Curiosity Rover Detects Largest Organic Molecules Found on Mars JPL Life. Students Dive Into Robotics at Competition Supported by NASA JPL Mars. NASA: New Study on Why Mars Is Red Supports Potentially Habitable Past Solar System. NASA’s Mini Rover Team Is Packed for Lunar Journey Mars. NASA’s Curiosity Rover Captures Colorful Clouds Drifting Over Mars Mars. NASA’s InSight Finds Marsquakes From Meteoroids Go Deeper Than Expected Explore MoreImage. Image. Image. Image. Curiosity Surveys the 'Ubajara' Sampling Site on Mars Image. Image. Image. Mission. Image. Perserverance Captures Crater Rim Dust Devil Eating Its Own This map shows various quadrant themes in the vicinity of NASA's Perseverance Mars rover which is currently in the Rocky Mountain quadrant within the much broader Jezero Crater Each quadrant is 0.7 miles (1.2 kilometers) on each side NASA’s Perseverance rover is currently investigating rock outcrops alongside the rim of Mars’ Belva Crater NASA’s Curiosity rover recently drilled a sample at a location called “Ubajara.” The crater bears an official name; the drill location is identified by a nickname Both names are among thousands applied by NASA missions not just to craters and hills Learn more about how Mars scientists name the craters 1 reason we pick all these names is to help the team keep track of what they’re finding each day,” said Ashwin Vasavada the Curiosity mission’s project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California we can refer to the many hills and rocks by name as we discuss them and eventually document our discoveries.” Just how scientists come up with the identifiers has evolved since the early days The difference between an official name on Mars and an unofficial one is seemingly simple: Official monikers have been approved by a body of scientists known as the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU sets standards for naming planetary features and logs the names in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. This map shows all the quadrant themes for NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover which is currently in the Roraima quadrant seen at the bottom The red oval indicates the landing ellipse where the rover was targeted to touch down in 2012 The yellow-tinted quadrants are areas the rover has driven through since then For example, craters larger than 37 miles (60 kilometers) are named for famous scientists or science-fiction authors; smaller craters are named after towns with populations of less than 100,000 people. Jezero Crater shares the name from a Bosnian town; Belva is named after a West Virginia town that is the suffragist who ran for president in 1884 and 1888 More than 2,000 locations on Mars bear official names but even more unofficial nicknames dot the Martian map Early Mars missions sometimes took a whimsical route with nicknames “Yogi Rock,” “Casper,” and “Scooby-Doo” were among the unofficial names applied by the team behind NASA’s first rover the Curiosity and Perseverance missions stick to nicknames based on terrestrial locations the rover’s team created a geological map of the landing area equivalent to about 0.7 miles (1.2 kilometers) on each side These quadrants would be themed around a site of geological significance on Earth team members suggested ideas for themes based on sites where they have worked or that they have a personal connection to and they informally discussed which would be the most interesting to include keeping in mind that various names would be memorialized in future scientific papers hundreds of names fitting into that theme are compiled That many are needed because the available names can dwindle quickly given that Curiosity may stay in a quadrant for several months scientists chose to go with national park themes The rover is now exploring the Rocky Mountain quadrant and recently drilled into rocks at a location bearing the nickname of Rocky Mountain National Park’s “Powell Peak.” karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / alana.r.johnson@nasa.gov Mars. Solar System. Mars. Solar System. Stars and Galaxies. NASA Launches Missions to Study Sun, Universe’s Beginning Explore MoreQUIZZES. Image. Juno Sees Turbulence in Jupiter's Atmosphere Image. Juno's JIRAM Captures Hots Spots on Io Image. Image. NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered compelling evidence that a carbon cycle once operated on the Red Planet potentially solving one of the greatest mysteries about Mars’ past atmosphere The finding, published in the April 17, 2025 issue of Science reveals significant deposits of siderite—an iron carbonate mineral—in three drill samples taken from Mount Sharp in Mars’ Gale Crater This discovery may explain what happened to the carbon dioxide that once made Mars’ atmosphere thick enough to support flowing water assistant professor at the University of Calgary and lead author of the study Scientists have long theorized that Mars once had a dense CO2-rich atmosphere and surface water which should have interacted with the planet’s rocks to form carbonate minerals previous rover missions and satellite observations hadn’t detected the predicted quantities leading to what researchers called the “missing carbonate” mystery Using the rover’s Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument which analyzes powdered rock samples using X-ray diffraction researchers found siderite at concentrations between 4.8% and 10.5% by weight in three samples taken from different elevations as Curiosity climbed Mount Sharp “Drilling through the layered Martian surface is like going through a history book,” explained Thomas Bristow research scientist at NASA Ames and co-author of the paper What makes this discovery particularly significant is evidence of a partially closed carbon cycle researchers found iron oxyhydroxides—minerals that form when siderite breaks down—indicating that some of the sequestered carbon dioxide was later released back into the atmosphere The presence of siderite alongside magnesium and calcium sulfates in these layers suggests that evaporation played a key role This pattern of minerals tells researchers about changes in the Martian environment revealing how the planet transitioned from wetter to drier conditions If similar carbonate deposits exist in other sulfate-rich regions across Mars they could represent a substantial reservoir of ancient atmospheric carbon dioxide—potentially equivalent to 2.6 to 36 millibars of atmospheric pressure Mars’ current atmosphere contains only about 6 millibars of CO2 The discovery helps resolve how Mars lost its warmer while significant amounts were locked away in minerals beneath the surface Unlike Earth’s balanced carbon cycle Mars’ cycle eventually became one-directional This finding also demonstrates why orbital instruments may not have detected these carbonates earlier—they could be masked by other minerals or hidden beneath the surface requiring direct sampling to reveal their presence As Curiosity continues its journey up Mount Sharp researchers hope to uncover more evidence about Mars’ ancient climate and the processes that transformed it into the cold Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Scientists have discovered two new species of short-tailed whipscorpions (in the order Schizomida) in limestone caves in Brazil according to a new paper published in PLoS ONE The new species—dubbed Rowlandius ubajara and Rowlandius potiguara—add new knowledge to a group of arachnids that is little known in South America outside of the Amazon “Schizomids occur mostly in poorly sampled habitats noting that these habitats are under-explored in South America “Subterranean habitats in particular can harbor large schizomid populations and are a promising source of undescribed species.” Species in the Schizomida order are generally quite small (under one centimeter) and are identified by their short tails Males of each species posses distinct tails While both the new species were discovered in limestone caves the scientists believe they may survive outside caves as well Even the absence of eye-spots—found in both the new species—does not mean they are cave dependent since many short-tailed whipscorpions lack eye-spots is needed before their full distribution can be determined Buzatto BA (2013) Two New Cave-Dwelling Species of the Short-Tailed Whipscorpion Genus Rowlandius (Arachnida: Schizomida: Hubbardiidae) from Northeastern Brazil Scientists discover two mini-spiders in China (photos) (05/23/2013) Scientists have uncovered two miniature spiders living on mountains in China’s southern region one of which is among the smallest spiders recorded worldwide Both spiders belong to the Mysmenidae family which is made up of mini-spiders with eight eyes Three new species of carnivorous snails discovered in endangered habitat in Thailand (photos) (05/23/2013) Scientists from Chulalongkorn University London recently discovered three new species of carnivorous snails in northern Thailand the celebration of these discoveries is tainted by the fact that the new snails are already threatened with extinction due to the destruction of their limestone habitat Pictures: Top 10 new species of 2012 (05/23/2013) A glow-in-the-dark cockroach an insect described from a photo posted on Flickr and the world’s tiniest frog are among the ‘top 10’ species discovered during 2012 according to global committee of taxonomists New prehistoric animal named after Johnny Depp due to its ‘scissorhands’ (05/19/2013) Half a billion years after an arthropod with long triple claws roamed the shallow Cambrian seas scientists have named it after Hollywood movie actor played Edward Scissorhands—an artificial man with long scissors for hands—in a popular 1990 film Scientists discover new giant mole rat in Africa (photos) (04/30/2013) Although the term “giant mole rat” may not immediately inspire love the mole rats of Africa are a fascinating bunch They spend practically their entire lives underground building elaborate tunnel systems and feeding on plant stems This underground lifestyle has led them to evolve small ears and nostrils they can shut at will while digging the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) Two new frog genera discovered in India’s Western Ghats, but restricted to threatened swamp-ecosystems (04/22/2013) The misty mountains of the Western Ghats seem to unravel new secrets the more you explore it Researchers have discovered two new frog genera possibly restricted to rare and threatened freshwater swamps in the southern Western Ghats of India described in the open-access journal Zootaxa prove once again the importance of the mountain range as a biodiversity hotspot The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] Join the news democracyWhere your votes decide the Top 100 Reasons for you to sign up to our newsletter here A groundbreaking study has revealed capuchin monkeys use tools to dig underground for food While apes are known to be extremely intelligent, with studies suggesting some deliberately make themselves dizzy to feel “escapism” monkeys have generally been deemed less intelligent But, a groundbreaking study by a research team from the University of São Paulo and the Capuchin Culture Project in Brazil as well as the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology has shown that wild bearded capuchins are capable of using tools suggesting they may be more intelligent than previously thought eating flowers and other plants as well as insects they have been observed using sticks and stones to expel prey from hiding places or crack open hard nuts or fruits But now the new research has shown they are also capable of using tools to access food sources underground The research group spent 21 months observing a group of 31 bearded capuchins in Brazil’s Ubajara National Park they noted 214 instances where the capuchin monkeys used either tools or their hands to dig underground for spiders and other foods researchers observed the monkeys using sticks They observed the monkeys “stick-probing” inside the spider burrow to expel it from its hiding place and possibly allowing them to access an ootheca (egg mass) the researchers believe there may be an element of cultural differences between groups that might affect the behaviours that each exhibits The authors explained such studies help us “better comprehend the ecological pressures that may have shaped the emergence of different digging tools and techniques in the primate lineage” Sign up for our free indy100 weekly newsletter How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 ranking CalgaryNews‘Life could have existed’: Signs of ancient carbon cycle discovered on Mars By Kevin GreenPublished: April 17, 2025 at 2:00PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Two new species of short-tailed whip scorpions have been found living deep inside the cool Whip scorpions are not true scorpions, but rather part of a group of arachnids that don't have stings and are not poisonous The newly discovered creatures are the same size and same reddish-brown color as other whip scorpions "You can only tell the species apart by looking at their genitals," said lead study author Adalberto Santos an arachnologist from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil This variation might reflect different strategies used by males of different sizes Bigger males with larger pedipalps might fight rival males for females whereas smaller males may avoid fighting altogether and simply try to mate with females when bigger males aren't around "It's better to be a bigger and stronger male but not everyone can be a bigger male," Santos said ubajara were only found in the Ubajara Cave in the state of Ceará This species did not show the dramatic variation in pedipalp length that R Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox Researchers found both new species of whip scorpion in caves where bats resided These arachnids probably eat springtails and other small insects that come to feed on bat guano Although the first specimens were found in caves, the new whip scorpions may not be exclusively adapted for life in the dark but this usually happens in short-tailed whip scorpions because they don't need visual information to survive "The animals look exactly the same as animals that live outside caves," Santos said most of these new insects have been found in caves which are threatened by Brazilian mining activities "Mining companies are allowed to explore and destroy caves," Santos said "We have to explore our caves and cave habitats" and find species before they are destroyed The findings were reported today (May 22) in the journal PLOS ONE Starving cannibalistic spiders won't hunt their siblings Multiple species of ticks in the US can transmit red meat allergy May's full 'Flower Moon' will be a micromoon guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov / elena.mejia@jpl.nasa.gov dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov