CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Scientists were stunned when NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover uncovered the mineral tridymite in Gale Crater in 2016. This high-temperature, low-pressure form of quartz is usually associated with felsic (silica-rich) volcanic systems here on Earth.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Curiosity rover found that ancient Mars had the right chemistry to support living microbes. Curiosity found sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon–key ingredients necessary for life–in the powder sample drilled from the “Sheepbed” mudstone in Yellowknife Bay.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Curiosity rover spotted (opens in new tab) the sinewy rocks on May 15, according to raw images the mission sends down to Earth. The images were obtained on Sol (Martian day) 3474 of the mission, as Curiosity speeds towards completing its first decade of work on Mars on Aug.

Detailed explanation-4: -Mars’ surface is largely covered with basalt, a volcanic rock covering much of Earth’s surface as well. Earth has large amounts of granite in its crust, which Mars appears to lack.

Detailed explanation-5: -Newly published research quantifies the presence of organic carbon in Martian rocks. Scientists using data from NASA’s Curiosity rover measured the total organic carbon – a key component in the molecules of life – in Martian rocks for the first time.