NASA Scientist Dr. Becky McCauley Wrench revealed that the ancient planet Mars was similar to Earth “for a very, very long time”. The US space agency said in a statement on October 15 that the Red Planet was not always as dry as it is today because, like Earth, Mars also has seasons, polar ice caps, valleys and weather. “Maybe ancient Mars was wetter and warmer, like Earth was similar,” said Dr. Rench, adds that at one time, the Red Planet had volcanoes, floods, and more.
NASA shared an interview with Dr. Rench on Instagram, where he was asked if Mars is similar to Earth. The NASA scientist replied, “Yes, we think so.”
How are the two worlds separate?
According to the official website, Dr. Rench explains that when the solar system formed four billion years ago, Mars and Earth were made up of “the same material and looked very similar.” He said both planets were terrestrial, with a central core, rocky mantle and hard crust. Wrench also adds that Mars has lakes, rivers, and possibly even the northern ocean.
“Two different worlds, and we have two very different planets today,” said Dr. Rench.
NASA scientists went on to say that despite the fact that the Red Planet may have been warm and humid, it is now a cold and dry place. He explained that the Earth was progressing with plate tectonics and the evolution of life. However, “Mars’ geological activity subsided, lost water, and became a drier planet” over time.
“This shared history is part of why studying the Red Planet is so exciting. Our efforts to explore Mars help us understand more about Mars’ past and future, as well as understand Earth and the evolution of the planets in our solar system and beyond,” Rench said, adding, “So is Mars like Earth? Well, yes I do. It’s been a very long time.”
(Photo: Instagram)
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