Scientists have made a major discovery about "spiders from Mars.".
The phenomenon occurs when black spider-like splashes appear on the surface of the red planet. Officially referred to as "araneiforms," they consist of troughs on the surface.
Nothing like this has been found on Earth and why they form on Mars remains a mystery.
Scientists have found new physical evidence that they say can be explained by the sublimation of CO2 ice. They appear to be carved into the surface when dry ice changes from solid to gas during springtime on Mars.
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Researchers from across the UK and Ireland have shown that the effect could happen using the Open University Mars Simulation Chamber. This allowed them to recreate conditions on the red planet, and see if similar patterns would be created by this sublimation. They ran an experiment with chunks of CO2 and tried to figure out what exactly was happening to the “spiders”.
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"The experiments show that the spider patterns we observe on Mars can be etched by the direct conversion of dry ice from solid to gas," said Dr. McKeown. "It's exciting because we're starting to understand more about seasonal change on the planet Mars.".
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Scientists say this process is explained by what is referred to as the Kieffer hypothesis: when spring arrives, sunlight shines through the ice and warms the ground below, causing the ice to sublimate and create pressure below, which eventually escapes through the cracks. As the gas escapes, it leaves behind the patterns, and the material remains on top of the ice.
Source of information: independent.co.uk
