Streak Patterns on Mars Likely Formed by Dust Rather Than Water Flow
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 20, 2025

New findings from Brown University and the University of Bern challenge the long-standing theory that certain streaks on Martian slopes are formed by flowing water. Using machine learning to analyze a comprehensive dataset of slope streak features, the research suggests these formations are more likely the result of dry processes, including wind and dust activity.

For decades, scientists have debated the nature of these dark streaks, which extend down Martian cliffsides and crater walls. Some researchers have proposed that these recurring slope lineae (RSL) might indicate liquid water, potentially offering habitable environments on the Red Planet. However, the new study led by Adomas Valantinas of Brown University and Valentin Bickel of the University of Bern found no evidence supporting a water-based origin.

"Our study reviewed these features but found no evidence of water. Our model favors dry formation processes," said Valantinas, who coauthored the research.

The team used machine learning algorithms to identify over 500,000 slope streaks across more than 86,000 high-resolution satellite images. This global map of Martian streaks allowed researchers to compare the data against environmental factors like temperature, wind speed, and rock slide activity. Their analysis revealed that these features are most likely to form in areas with high wind speeds and abundant dust deposition, rather than regions where water might exist.

The study, published in Nature Communications on May 19, also found that these streaks are often located near recent impact craters, suggesting that shockwaves from meteorite impacts may play a role in triggering dust slides. Meanwhile, RSLs appear more frequently in regions with active dust devils or frequent rockfalls.

These findings cast significant doubt on the idea that slope streaks and RSLs indicate habitable environments on Mars. This has important implications for planetary protection protocols, as it reduces the risk of contaminating potential life-bearing sites with Earth microbes during future Mars missions.

"That's the advantage of this big data approach," Valantinas said. "It helps us to rule out some hypotheses from orbit before we send spacecraft to explore."

Research Report:Streaks on martian slopes are dry

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