The Perseverance Rover's Epic Discoveries: Ancient Rivers and Clues to Extraterrestrial Life

In recent years, the search for ancient life on Mars has made significant progress.

[{"selector":"#anim-0eb339d5-06ab-4ffc-a71c-427c507a34cc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(25.081540164017323%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The Perseverance Rover, has found numerous signs of water and ice on the Martian surface.

[{"selector":"#anim-29a8d6c2-09a6-42ae-b726-aa1ccb8dde52 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.831540186772177%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

A potential riverbed on Mars was recently discovered by the Perseverance Rover.

[{"selector":"#anim-50546e3a-fa5a-443e-bff3-5f3e13c4a69e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.47292495047288%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Images of what looked like the skeletal remains of a large animal on Mars were also shared by NASA’s Curiosity Rover.

[{"selector":"#anim-24b422d0-9e85-4058-ae94-807a1026efc6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(36.60558802977939%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

New photos from the Perseverance Rover suggest a deeper and faster river on Mars than previously thought.

[{"selector":"#anim-0919a6db-0f76-4ddc-9a33-7f2a9ebd7773 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.52168145207545%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The discovery of a river on Mars is a significant advancement in the search for ancient life on the planet.

[{"selector":"#anim-1514cca3-7e68-486d-b8cf-ccf1d44e7164 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(30.714218096427643%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The Perseverance Rover has been investigating Jezero Crater and its surroundings for over 2 years.

[{"selector":"#anim-0afe9730-21c3-4085-a1de-095d074a4af4 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.355602860128336%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

Evidence indicates that ancient rivers on Mars were much deeper and flowed much faster than previously thought.

[{"selector":"#anim-9a3faacb-4c07-4996-ae30-2526654795ce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.87587500710805%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]

The discovery of the river on Mars reveals its connection to a network of waterways that flowed into Jezero Crater.

[{"selector":"#anim-b3a3c691-7ede-4ffc-926d-5770bf25217a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(28.370468082205857%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.14,.34,.47,.9)","fill":"forwards"}]