[ti:New Discovery Could Explain What Gives Mars its Red Color]
[al:Science & Technology]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2025-03-03]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]Scientists say they might have identified the mineral on Mars that is responsible for making the planet appear red.
[00:13.86]New data collected on Mars through several methods suggests the substance, called ferrihydrite, is likely found in dust and rock material across wide areas of the planet. 
[00:33.16]The team carrying out the research describes ferrihydrite as an "iron oxide mineral."
[00:43.27]The mineral appears reddish in color and can form in water-rich environments. 
[00:52.08]The scientists said discovering large amounts of it on Mars adds to existing evidence that the planet might have held a large supply of liquid water in the past.
[01:09.06]The research was carried out by an international team led by America's Brown University and the University of Bern in Switzerland.
[01:22.48]The findings recently appeared in a study published in Nature Communications.
[01:31.15]The researchers noted that scientists have long wondered about the exact substance that gives Mars - which is also known as the Red Planet - its deep red color. 
[01:46.81]Past studies had suggested a mineral called hematite might be the cause.
[01:55.73]The study is based on Martian data collected by several spacecraft. 
[02:02.64]These include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, operated by the American space agency NASA. 
[02:12.40]In addition, information was captured by instruments aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Mars Express and Trace Gas orbiters. 
[02:27.25]Some data also came from exploring vehicles, called rovers, operating on Mars.
[02:36.51]In their examinations, the researchers also used manmade, or synthetic, material designed to look and feel similar to real Martian dust.
[02:51.83]Adomas Valantinas currently works as a researcher at Brown University's Department of Earth, Environment & Planetary Sciences.
[03:05.32]He helped write the study. Valantinas noted the mystery of why Mars is red had been considered "for hundreds, if not thousands, of years."
[03:19.87]Valantinas recognized his team was not the first to consider ferrihydrite as a possible reason for the coloring of Mars.
[03:32.82]But he noted, "it has never been proven as we have now, using observational data and novel laboratory methods..."
[03:45.17]Valantinas noted the discovery of widespread ferrihydrite suggests Mars once held liquid water that would have made it possible for the planet to support some form of life.
[04:02.85]"Our study reveals that ferrihydrite formation on Mars required the presence of both oxygen...and water capable of reacting with iron," he added.
[04:18.35]"These conditions were very different from the dry, cold environment of Mars today."
[04:26.68]John Mustard is a planetary expert at Brown University and was a co-writer of the study. 
[04:36.72]He called it "a door-opening opportunity" for future research. 
[04:43.98]But he added that additional study is needed to confirm the team's latest findings.
[04:52.62]"As exciting as the new findings are, we realize that our results can only be verified by samples from Mars, which are currently being collected by NASA's Perseverance rover," Mustard said.
[05:11.94]He added, "When we get those back, we will be able to check whether our theory about ferrihydrite is correct."
[05:23.20]I'm Bryan Lynn.