NASA's Perseverance Rover Uncovers Evidence of Ancient Lakes, Rain on Mars

• NASA's Perseverance rover found evidence in Jezero Crater suggesting Mars once had a water-filled environment, lake-like shores, and prolonged rainfall billions of years ago.
• Scientists discovered layered sandstone with rounded grains in Jezero Crater, similar to those formed by lake or ocean waves on Earth, indicating stable bodies of water.
• Carbonate minerals found in the 'margin unit' of Jezero Crater suggest formation in the presence of liquid water, potentially preserving organic molecules and supporting microbial life.
• The discovery of kaolinite clay, which forms on Earth with heavy, continuous rainfall, indicates Mars once had a warm, humid climate and significant precipitation.
• Jezero Crater is believed to have held a vast lake 3.5 billion years ago, twice the size of Lake Tahoe, making it crucial for investigating Mars' past habitable conditions.

Why It Matters: New NASA findings from Perseverance rover reveal Mars was once a wet, warm planet with lakes and rain.