Scientists were stunned in late May when a rock that NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover was driving over cracked open, revealing something never before seen on Mars: yellow sulfur crystals.
Since October 2023, the Mars rover has been exploring an area rich in sulfates, a type of salt that contains sulfur and is formed when water evaporates. But where there have been detections of sulfur-based minerals in the past, Curiosity’s recently cracked rock is made of elemental, or pure, sulfur. It is not clear what relationship the elemental sulfur has to other sulfur-based minerals in the area.
NASA’s Curiosity is a car-sized rover exploring Mars since its landing in August 2012. Part of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, its primary goal is to investigate the planet’s climate and geology, assess whether the Gale Crater ever had environmental conditions favorable for microbial life, and study the role of water on Mars. Equipped with numerous scientific instruments, Curiosity analyzes soil and rock samples, captures high-resolution images, and monitors the planet’s weather and radiation levels. Its findings contribute to our understanding of Mars’ habitability and guide future missions.
