NASA scientists have astonishingly recreated Mars' eerie black 'spiders' in a lab, unraveling a mystery that has puzzled researchers for decades.
"Key Highlights:
1. NASA recreates mysterious formations on Mars.
2. Observed for the first time in 2003.
3. Successful lab experiment reveals new insights into Mars."
"NASA scientists have successfully recreated the strange black ""spiders"" seen on the surface of Mars, marking a major breakthrough in understanding these mysterious formations. These structures, known as ""araneiform terrain"" or simply ""Spiders on Mars,"" consist of dark, crack-like shapes with many legs stretching up to 3,300 feet long. When viewed from space, they resemble a group of spiders crawling across the Martian surface.
First discovered by Mars orbiters in 2003, these spiders puzzled scientists for years. They now know that the spiders form when carbon dioxide (CO2) ice on Mars sublimates—meaning it turns directly from solid ice to gas—causing the unique patterns.
In a recent study published in The Planetary Science Journal, researchers recreated this process in a lab, making a smaller version of these Martian spiders. Led by NASA planetary geomorphologist Lauren McKeown, this experiment has been over five years in the making. McKeown, describing the excitement of the successful experiment, recalled shouting in joy late one evening, which startled the lab manager who rushed in to check.
This breakthrough brings scientists closer to solving more mysteries of Mars."
