NASA Curiosity Rover Finds Coral-Shaped Rock Indicating Ancient Mars Water

NASA's Curiosity rover has discovered a small, coral-shaped rock formation in Gale Crater on Mars, providing further evidence that the planet once hosted liquid water. The rock, about 2.5 centimeters wide and photographed using Curiosity's Remote Micro Imager, was formed billions of years ago when mineral-rich water seeped into cracks in Martian rocks, leaving hardened mineral veins after drying. Over time, wind erosion exposed these veins, creating the coral-like shapes seen today. This discovery is part of a series of similar findings, including a flower-shaped rock and the 'Paposo' formation, which collectively suggest a wetter, more dynamic Martian environment in the past. While the planet is now a cold desert, these formations support the idea that Mars had rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans, increasing the possibility that it could have once supported life. NASA continues to study these geological features to better understand the planet's transformation from a potentially habitable world to its current arid state.