‘Bathtub Ring’ on Mars Points to Ancient Ocean Covering a Third of the Planet
Updated
Updated · CNN · Apr 20
‘Bathtub Ring’ on Mars Points to Ancient Ocean Covering a Third of the Planet
18 articles · Updated · CNN · Apr 20
Scientists have identified a broad, flat 'bathtub ring' on Mars, offering new evidence that a vast ocean once covered a third of the planet.
This coastal shelf, visible in Mars’ northern lowlands, aligns with river deltas and sediment deposits, supporting the idea of a long-lived ancient ocean.
The discovery deepens understanding of Mars’ watery past and may guide future missions in the search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet.
Did our search for Earth-like shorelines cause us to miss Mars's real ocean for decades?
Could ancient volcanoes or ice, not an ocean, have created the newly found Martian 'shelf'?
Did Mars's ocean feed the nickel-rich lake where the Perseverance rover found hints of life?
If a vast ocean once covered Mars, where did all the water disappear to?
Is Mars a frozen museum of an ancient water world, preserved because it lacks plate tectonics?
With sample return canceled, can a lone rover finally confirm if life swam in Mars's ancient ocean?