Iowa Scientist Makes History With Surprising Mars Discovery

Mars is nearly 140 million miles away from Earth. But despite the distance, we're still making new discoveries about the red planet. And the latest discovery comes courtesy of the University of Iowa.

Scientist Makes a Shocking Discovery on Mars

CBS2 reports that a University of Iowa scientist has made a surprising and important discovery on the surface of Mars. Dr. Valerie Payre' and her team have uncovered the mineral corundum, which was previously thought to only exist here on Earth. Not anymore. The mineral, which is found in rubies and sapphires, was found while Payre and her team were studying the surface of Mars, according to CBS2.

What Does The Discovery Mean?

Payre says that the discovery is exciting, noting that on Earth, there are no rocks older than 4 million years old. But on Mars, there are. Finding the common mineral could tell scientists more about how both Mars and Earth formed, according to CBS2. Payre and her team have been working on the project since the Perseverance Rover landed on Mars in 2021.

What Will Scientists Do Next on Mars?

How would Payre like to follow up on her discovery? CBS2 reports that she would like to take a small helicopter to fly on Mars and take it to the bottom of a deep canyon. There, Payre says researchers could examine the entirety of Mars' crust.