Martian Chronicles: Perseverance rover spills the secrets of Mars’ ancient lakes (science news).

NASA’s Perseverance Rover, the interplanetary Sherlock Holmes, recently celebrated its 1000th Martian day (or sol, for those in the cosmic know) by doing what it does best: unraveling the ancient mysteries of Mars’ real estate. This time, it’s been exploring an old Martian lake and river system in Jezero Crater, and let’s just say, it’s been digging up more than just dirt.

Perseverance, or Percy as its closest friends call it, has been playing in Martian mud and sand, collecting a whopping 23 samples. Each sample is like a time capsule, holding secrets of Mars’ watery past. Think of it as Perseverance’s version of a scrapbook, but instead of photos, it’s filled with rocks and dust.

One sample, adorably named Lefroy Bay, could be the Martian equivalent of a fossil gold mine. It’s packed with fine-grained silica, which on Earth is like a fossil preserver’s dream. Imagine if Perseverance finds an ancient Martian microbe fossil; it’d be like discovering your great-great-great (add a few more greats) Martian cousin!

Another sample, Otis Peak, is rich in phosphate, which is practically a VIP invite to the party of life as we know it. If Martian microbes were around, they would’ve loved this phosphate-rich spa. Both Lefroy Bay and Otis Peak also have a good dose of carbonate, which is great at holding onto environmental secrets like a tight-lipped gossip.

This Martian saga was shared at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting, where scientists probably had their minds blown, or at least slightly ruffled. Jezero Crater, where Perseverance has been vacationing, was formed about 4 billion years ago due to an asteroid’s lack of spatial awareness. This crater has seen it all: magma, rivers, and even a 22-mile wide lake that was 100 feet deep – a perfect spot for Martian beach parties, we assume. Perseverance’s instruments, including the Planetary Instrument for X-ray Lithochemistry (PIXL), have been busy. At a spot called Bills Bay, PIXL found carbonates and silica, hinting at a once watery, life-friendly environment. It’s like finding a Martian oasis, but instead of water and palm trees, it’s rocks and dust.

Then there’s Ouzel Falls, where PIXL detected iron associated with phosphate. On Earth, phosphate is part of DNA and cell energy – it’s basically the life of the party for cells. Finding it on Mars is like getting a RSVP ‘maybe’ from ancient Martian life.

As Perseverance prepares for its next adventure near Jezero Crater’s margin, it’s like it’s following the breadcrumb trail of a long-gone Martian river. With rich carbonate deposits spotted, it’s like Perseverance is investigating the ring of a giant Martian bathtub.

In essence, NASA’s Perseverance Rover is the cosmic detective we didn’t know we needed, turning Martian stones into stories and bringing a little bit of Mars’ history to our own blue planet. So here’s to Percy, the rover that’s making 1000 Martian days look easy and making science cooler than ever!