Mars's ancient river systems mapped for the 1st time
Scientists just made the first global map of Mars's ancient river basins, revealing 16 giant watersheds—each about the size of big ones here on Earth.
This gives us a fresh look at how water once shaped the Red Planet.
How did they do it?
Using previously published datasets, researchers traced out old valleys, lakes, and rivers. These basins were carved by rainfall billions of years ago.
While they only cover 5% of Mars's surface, these spots account for nearly half the sediment moved by ancient rivers.
Why does this matter?
Unlike Earth, Mars doesn't have tectonic plates to mix things up—so its river basins are fewer but much bigger.
These newly mapped areas are packed with sediment and nutrients, making them top targets for future missions searching for signs that life might have once existed on Mars.