August 2024 - Sulfur Crystals on Mars: Curiosity’s Happy Accident
These yellow crystals were revealed after NASA’s Curiosity happened to drive over a rock and crack it open on May 30. Using an instrument on the rover’s arm, scientists later determined these crystals are elemental sulfur — and it’s the first time this kind of sulfur has been found on the Red Planet.
Sulfur Crystals on Mars: Curiosity’s Happy Accident
August 15
Time: 5 p.m. PDT (8 p.m. EDT; 0100 UTC)
Scientists were stunned when a wheel on the Curiosity Mars rover recently cracked open a rock to reveal something never seen before on the Red Planet: yellow sulfur crystals. While the rover has previously detected sulfur-based minerals, this rock is made of pure, elemental sulfur.
Join us for a live conversation with Dr. Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity’s project scientist, to discuss the significance of the finding as well as other notable discoveries from the mountain-climbing Mars explorer’s 12th year on the Red Planet.
Speaker(s):
Dr. Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity Project Scientist, NASA JPL
Host:
Nikki Wyrick, Communications and Education Directorate, NASA JPL
Co-host:
Sarah Marcotte, Public Outreach Specialist, NASA JPL