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Mars is home to a series of strange spider-shaped geological formations known as araneiform terrains, mostly found in the southern hemisphere. Visible in images from orbiting spacecraft since
Mars is home to a series of strange spider-shaped geological formations known as araneiform terrains, mostly found in the southern hemisphere. Visible in images from orbiting spacecraft since 2003, these formations have captured the attention of scientists worldwide. Despite their appeal, their creation remains a mystery. A new research paper describes experiments that simulated conditions on Mars to understand the formation of these Martian “spiders.”
The mystery began in 2003, when scientists noticed spider-like formations crawling on images from the orbiter. It’s unclear how these geological features were created, according to NASA. The formations often occur in clusters, giving the planet’s surface a noticeably crumpled appearance. Picture a crumpled piece of paper; that’s what Mars looks like from a planetary perspective.
The prevailing theory suggested that these “spiders” were formed by processes involving carbon dioxide ice, something foreign to Earth. A team led by Dr. Lauren McKeown at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) successfully recreated these formation processes in a simulated Martian environment.
“The spiders themselves are strange, beautiful geological features,” Dr McKeown said. “These experiments will help to fine-tune our models of how they formed.” Imagine the surface of Mars covered in transparent sheets of carbon dioxide ice. When sunlight hits these sheets of ice, the dark soil beneath absorbs the heat.
The intense heat causes sublimation (the solid turning directly into a gas, bypassing the liquid phase) and converting the ice into carbon dioxide. As the pressure increases, the gas breaks the ice and eventually escapes through these cracks. Along with the gas, a dark stream of dust and sand settles on the icy surface.
This process repeats itself until spring, when the remaining ice sublimates, leaving behind traces of mini-eruptions that create the spider-like formations we see now.
To achieve these results, Dr. McKeown and his team recreated Martian conditions in the laboratory. Given the extremely low temperatures and air pressure on Mars, this is a challenge. To simulate these conditions, the team used a liquid nitrogen-cooled test chamber at JPL called DUSTIE.
“I love DUSTY. It’s historic,” McKeown said. DUSTIE was previously used to test a prototype cutting tool developed for NASA’s Mars Phoenix lander. The experiment involved cooling simulated Martian soil in a container placed in a liquid nitrogen bath before placing it in the DUSTIE chamber.
The air pressure was then reduced to Martian levels, and the chamber was filled with carbon dioxide, which eventually condensed into ice within three to five hours.
A key part of the experiment was creating the right ice conditions. The ice had to be thick and clear; trial and error. These formations, which resemble the Red Planet’s “spiders,” appeared in a Martian soil simulator during experiments in JPL’s DUSTIE chamber. Carbon dioxide ice, frozen in the simulator, was heated by a heater underneath to turn it back into a gas. Credit: NASA
Once this was achieved, a heater was placed under the soil simulator to initiate smoke generation. This moment was a real thrill for Dr. McKeown, who had been working towards this breakthrough for five years.
“It was late on a Friday night, and the lab manager came rushing in after hearing me scream,” Dr. McKeown said. “He thought there had been an accident.”
Successfully replicating araneiform terrain on Mars in a controlled laboratory environment is critical to future missions to Mars. Understanding the formation of these spidery formations not only solves a geological mystery, but also teaches us about the planet’s climate and geological history.
This information could play a key role in helping select landing sites and develop probes as we prepare to send humans to Mars. By deciphering these mysterious features, scientists can better predict the environmental conditions that future missions may encounter, improving the safety and efficiency of extraterrestrial exploration.
Dr. McKeown and his team’s breakthrough demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary collaboration in planetary science, with geologists, climatologists, and engineers combining their expertise to recreate a slice of the Martian reality on Earth.
The interdisciplinary approach not only accelerated the process of solving the ancient mystery, but also set a precedent for future scientific research. By successfully recreating the “spider” formation, experts took a major step forward in understanding the dynamics of Mars. The research provides invaluable information about the evolution and climate of Mars.
The next step is to repeat these experiments under simulated sunlight to further narrow down the conditions under which this phenomenon occurs. The study was published on: Journal of Planetary Science.
Source: Port Altele
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
