NASA/JPL/Cornell/US Geological Survey |

Thick With Salt
This image, taken by the microscopic imager on the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, illustrates the shapes of the small cavities located on the region dubbed "El Capitan." Infiltrating groundwater removed the mineral that once occupied these cavities, but it remained highly saline in order to preserve the rest of the outcrop minerals. Researchers note that although some organisms on Earth are able to survive extreme salinity, they are all descended from ancestors that did not have this ability, suggesting that extremely salty brines are not a cradle for life, at least on our planet.

« back to article

Download This Widget at Bottom!

Related News Feeds