NASA discovers mysterious Martian spheres

On July 5, 2025, the 1555th day of Perseverance's Mars mission, the Watson camera on its robotic arm imaged spherules (spherical stones) in a region known as Rowsell Hill. Unlike the hematite-containing blueberry-like formations previously discovered by Opportunity in the 2000s, these new spheres are thought to be basaltic in structure and formed at high temperatures.

NASA scientists believe these spheres are formed either by the rapid cooling of volcanic lava or by molten material from meteorite impacts freezing in the air and falling to the ground. Perseverance previously drilled into a similar formation at Hare Bay to collect samples. It then focused on the loose sphere structures around Witch Hazel Hill. It is thought that some of the spheres eventually broke away from the rock layers and reached the surface. Instruments such as SuperCam and PIXL examined the chemical composition of these structures.

"Understanding the formation process of spherules is critical to the geological history of Mars," said Andrew Shumway, lead author of the study. "If they were formed by a meteorite impact, they could provide insights into cosmic impacts on early Mars. If they were formed by a volcanic eruption, they could hold clues about Mars' volcanic past."

Scientists stated that NASA's discovery could open new doors to the still unresolved dynamic past of Mars.

DHA

Reporter: News Center