"For example, there are small traces of hydrogen in Mars' core. "It's like a puzzle in some ways," Lekic said. And the team thinks that the interior of the planet and the bombardment of space rocks across its surface may have played a key role in this evolution. The researchers think that Mars may have gradually evolved into the planet we see today transforming from a habitable environment to one hostile to life. Traces of magnetism in the crust of Mars indicates that the Red Planet did once have this magnetic shielding that would have protected the complex molecules needed for life from harsh solar radiation that would break them apart. ![]() Mars' core does not generate this protective shield, and so the planet's surface conditions are hostile to life." "The uniqueness of Earth's core allows it to generate a magnetic field that protects us from solar winds, allowing us to keep water. The end result of the formation and evolution processes can be either the generation or absence of life-sustaining conditions," UMD Associate Professor of Geology and research author, Nicholas Schmerr, explained. "You can think of it this way the properties of a planet's core can serve as a summary about how the planet formed and how it evolved dynamically over time. ![]() This could indicate that the two neighboring planets experienced different formation conditions. Earth's core has a much lower percentage of light elements implying that the core of Mars is much less dense than the core of our own planet. ![]() The team was also able to determine some of the chemical elements that compose the Martian core finding evidence of a surprisingly large proportion of light elements such as sulfur and oxygen in its innermost layer. The team managed to unearth a high proportion of sulfur and oxygen and other light elements in the innermost layer.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |