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Curiosity Discovers Ancient Debris Channel Potentially Formed by Water

Curiosity, NASA’s impressive Mars rover, has been on a journey up Mt. Sharp in Gale Crater for almost 12 years now. Recently, it reached an intriguing feature called Gediz Vallis channel, which could shed light on Mars’ ancient watery history. This channel appears to have been carved by water billions of years ago and has since been filled with rock.

While the upper regions of Mt. Sharp are inaccessible to Curiosity, nature has provided the rover with rocks that have tumbled down from the mountain, creating a ridge and filling up the channel. These rocks, within Curiosity’s reach, may hold valuable clues about Mars’ watery past.

Mars’ history of surface liquid water is a complex puzzle with many pieces. Evidence of hydrated minerals, sulphates, river channels, and deltas on Mars suggests a once warm and wet environment. Gediz Vallis, though a small part of Mars, could provide significant insights into the planet’s past.

his image from 2019 shows a proposed route for MSL Curiosity. The rover is about to expire Gediz Vallis Channel. Image Credit: By NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/Univ. of Arizona/JHUAPL/MSSS/USGS Astrogeology Science Center
This image from 2019 shows a proposed route for MSL Curiosity. The rover is about to expire Gediz Vallis Channel. Image Credit: By NASA/JPL-Caltech/ESA/Univ. of Arizona/JHUAPL/MSSS/USGS Astrogeology Science Center

Understanding Gediz Vallis starts with Mt. Sharp, which was formed over geological time by sediment deposition in layers. The channel, with its steep walls, suggests water carving rather than wind erosion. The rocky debris in the channel likely originated from the upper reaches of Mt. Sharp, offering Curiosity a glimpse into areas it cannot reach.

This image shows the debris piles in the Gediz Vallis channel as seen by MSL Curiosity. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UC Berkeley
This image shows the debris piles in the Gediz Vallis channel as seen by MSL Curiosity. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UC Berkeley

Project scientist Ashwin Vasavada expressed excitement about the possibility of water formation in the channel or debris pile, suggesting a return of water after a long dry period on Mars. This aligns with other evidence of varying water phases on the planet, complicating our understanding of its history.

Gediz Vallis Ridge is the hill-like slope at right in this MSL Curiosity image captured on August 19th, 2023. It took the rover three attempts over three years before it could reach the ridge. It spent 11 days at the ridge and is now working its way to Gediz Vallis Channel. The formation has scientists intrigued because of what it might tell them about the history of water on the Red Planet. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Gediz Vallis Ridge is the hill-like slope at right in this MSL Curiosity image captured on August 19th, 2023. It took the rover three attempts over three years before it could reach the ridge. It spent 11 days at the ridge and is now working its way to Gediz Vallis Channel. The formation has scientists intrigued because of what it might tell them about the history of water on the Red Planet. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

While exploring Gediz Vallis will take months, the data collected could provide valuable insights into Mars’ watery past. Recent research, based partially on Curiosity’s data, suggests episodic water presence on Mars, challenging the notion of water disappearing at once. Gediz Vallis’s role in Mars’ story is yet to be fully understood, but ongoing exploration could unravel more of the planet’s complex history.

This digital elevation model (DEM) provides some context for Curiosity's journey. Image Credit: Hughes et al. 2022
This digital elevation model (DEM) provides some context for Curiosity’s journey. Image Credit: Hughes et al. 2022

Curiosity’s meticulous exploration of Gediz Vallis holds promise for unraveling Mars’ mysteries, offering valuable insights into the planet’s dynamic geological past.

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University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters reach an agreement to dismantle encampment

Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee have agreed to end their pro-Palestinian encampment following an agreement reached with the school, university officials announced on Sunday. The encampment, which had been in place for two weeks, will be dismantled by Tuesday, marking the end of what was believed to be the last standing encampment at a Wisconsin college.

University officials had allowed the encampment to remain on a patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, opting not to involve law enforcement. This approach differed from the response at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where police were called in to remove tents after negotiations fell through. Despite initial efforts to disband the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison eventually reached an agreement with protesters to voluntarily dismantle the camp prior to commencement ceremonies.

Chancellor Mark Mone of Wisconsin-Milwaukee stated last Wednesday that the university had exhibited “the widest possible amount of patience and restraint.” However, he also cautioned that patience was wearing thin and hinted at potential action by the school. Following discussions with the UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition, the university agreed to advocate for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, condemn the destruction of schools and universities in Gaza by Israeli forces, and hold meetings with protest leaders regarding university investments.

Additionally, the university pledged to urge the Water Council, a Milwaukee organization of water technology companies, to sever connections with two Israeli government-owned entities, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority. Chancellor Mone serves as the treasurer on the Water Council’s board of directors.

In return for these commitments, the protesters agreed to dismantle the encampment beginning on Sunday and completing the process by Tuesday. They also agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies scheduled for Sunday. In a statement, the protesters expressed their satisfaction with the agreement, stating, “After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined we had obtained all possible benefits from the encampment.”

The resolution of the encampment at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee represents a successful outcome of negotiations between university officials and protesters. By reaching a compromise that addresses the concerns of both parties, a peaceful resolution has been achieved, allowing for the encampment to be taken down without incident.

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