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Study Resolves Decades-Old Debate Over Martian Slope Streaks

New research confirms that dark streaks on Mars are caused by dry dust avalanches, not liquid water, reshaping exploration and planetary protection strategies.

Dark finger-like slope streaks extending across the dusty Martian surface in a region called Arabia Terra are seen in this NASA satellite photograph released on May 19, 2025.  NASA/Handout via REUTERS
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Overview

  • A global catalog of over 500,000 Martian slope streaks was created using machine learning and 86,000 high-resolution satellite images.
  • Geostatistical analysis links these features to wind, dust deposition, and seismic activity, ruling out liquid water or frost as their origin.
  • The findings indicate that these locations are unlikely to support life, reducing contamination concerns for future Mars missions.
  • Slope streaks often form near impact craters, while recurring slope lineae (RSLs) are associated with dust devils and rockfalls.
  • The study underscores the role of dust dynamics in shaping Mars' surface and climate, with millions of tons of material potentially transported annually.