An international team of scientists has revealed that unusual leopard-spot patterns on a Martian rock may hold clues to ancient microbial life on the Red Planet, potentially reshaping our understanding of Mars’ habitability.
The rock, dubbed Cheyava Falls, was discovered by NASA’s Perseverance rover in June 2024 within the ancient river valley of Neretva Vallis, a channel carved by flowing water billions of years ago that emptied into Jezero Crater.