• New research suggests Martian streaks are caused by dry dust movements, not liquid water.
• The study involved analysis of around 500,000 features scanned from satellite images.
• Findings may reshape the understanding of Mars' environment and habitability.

Newly analyzed data highlights that the dark streaks running down the sides of Martian cliffs and crater walls, long thought to be evidence of liquid water flows, are likely formed through dry processes. Researchers examined approximately 500,000 features captured in satellite images, leading them to conclude these streaks give a misleading impression of liquid water on a planet otherwise deemed inhospitable for life as we know it, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Dawn.

The study found that these formations are likely due to the accumulation of fine-grained dust, which behaves similarly to a liquid under certain conditions. This dust is moved down slopes by various triggers such as wind gusts, meteorite impacts, and marsquakes. "The tiny dust particles can create flow-like patterns without liquid," explained Adomas Valantinas, co-leader of the study from Brown University, according to Reuters and Dawn.

Using satellite images, including those from 2006 to 2020 obtained by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the researchers identified that these streaks average between 1,970 to 2,540 feet (600 to 775 meters) and are primarily found in three clusters: Elysium Planitia, Arabia Terra, and the Tharsis volcanic plateau. The estimated number of slope streaks on Mars could be as high as two million, emphasizing the need for improved imaging techniques, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Moreover, the study discusses the implications of these findings on the possibility of liquid water existing on the Martian surface today. Although Mars was once wetter and warmer, the current environmental conditions make it very difficult for liquid water to exist, despite potential sources like buried ice or subsurface aquifers. "Generally, it is very difficult for liquid water to exist on the Martian surface, due to the low temperature and low atmospheric pressure," noted Valentin Bickel, co-leader of the study from the University of Bern, according to Dawn.

Furthermore, researchers also investigated recurring slope lineae (RSL), transient features that form in summer and fade in winter, and suggest similar dry-forming mechanisms. These insights help to shift the focus of the search for possible habitats for life on Mars to other locations that might offer better conditions, thereby refining the parameters of habitability research, as stated by both Valantinas and Bickel in their assessments presented in the findings according to Reuters and Dawn.