SPACE fans have been wowed by remarkable images showing the desolate surface of Mars in great detail.
And it’s impossible to miss the mysterious blue rocks scattered across the eerie landscape too – though there is an explanation for their colour.
NASABlue-ish rocks are not quite what they seem[/caption]
NASANasa enhanced the image to accentuate colour differences[/caption]
The stunning shots were captured by the space agency’s Perseverance robot and pieced together to create an even more mesmerising camera pan video.
Perseverance has long been capturing some of the clearest views we’ve ever seen on Mars since it landed on the planet in February 2021.
The small car-sized rover has been on a mission to uncover signs of ancient microbial life.
And it’ll ultimately pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet – with Nasa hoping to send astronauts there for the first time in the 2030s.
Among the images beamed millions of miles back to Earth has been these from a boulder field on Mount Washburn – which takes its name from a mountain in Wyoming – in Mars’ Jezero Crater.
Experts nicknamed the light-toned boulder with dark speckles near the centre of the mosaic “Atoko Point”.
This zone is made up of a mineral known as pyroxene.
In terms of the size, shape and arrangement of its mineral grains and crystals, Atoko Point is different from any of the rocks the rover has encountered before.
The video and images appear to show blue-like rocks.
However, this is just an enhanced colour version of the mosaic created by Nasa to improve visual contrast and make colour differences clearer to see.
More natural colours can be seen in the pictures below.
They were captured by the robot’s on-board cameras in June and are made up of 18 images stitched together to create one big snap.
“HD footage of another world. Crazy to think about it,” one space fan wrote on Reddit.
“It’s such delight to see actual footage of a neighboring world!” another commented.
Perseverance has encountered a number of weird rocks during its travels.
NASAWhat the images look like without enhancements[/caption]
NASA18 images were stitched together to form the wider view of Mars[/caption]
How Mars could change humans over 5, 10, and 50 years
Here’s a breakdown of how humans could evolve over five, 10, and 50 years on Mars, according to Kyle Zagrodzky, founder of OsteoStrong, a company that specialises in bone health.
5 Years
Muscle and Bone Loss: Even with exercise, muscles and bones would weaken due to reduced stress on them. Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) experience similar effects in microgravity. On Mars, this might be less severe than in space, but significant muscle atrophy and bone density loss would still occur.
Cardiovascular System: The heart may weaken because it doesn’t need to work as hard to pump blood in lower gravity. Blood circulation might be less efficient, and there could be changes in blood volume and distribution.
Balance and Coordination: People may experience changes in their sense of balance and coordination as their inner ear, which helps with balance, adjusts to the lower gravity.
10 Years
Adaptation of Musculoskeletal System: Over time, the human body might partially adapt, with muscles and bones stabilizing at a new, lower level of mass and density. However, returning to Earth could pose significant challenges, as the body would struggle to cope with Earth’s stronger gravity.
Changes in Body Shape: With prolonged exposure, the body could undergo structural changes, such as elongated spine or changes in the way fat is distributed, as gravity impacts posture and body mechanics differently.
Psychological Effects: The constant awareness of a lighter body and different movement dynamics could alter spatial awareness. There might also be psychological effects due to the isolation and confinement on Mars, which could impact mental health and behavior.
50 Years
Genetic and Epigenetic Changes: Over several generations, humans born on Mars might evolve adaptations to the lower gravity. There would likely be a potential for genetic mutations or epigenetic changes. This could result in a population with different physical traits, such as longer limbs or less dense bones.
Potential for a New Human Variant: If humans were to live on Mars for multiple generations, it’s possible that a distinct “Martian” human variant could emerge, adapted to the conditions of Mars. These changes could make it challenging for them to visit or live on Earth.
Long-term Health Issues: Chronic exposure to lower gravity could lead to long-term health issues, including weakened cardiovascular systems, potential immune system alterations, and increased vulnerability to certain diseases due to weakened muscles and bones.
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