<\/p>\n “On Mars, the past is written in stone \u2014 but the present is written in sand,” the statement says.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n Megaripples are sandy ridges that rise up to about three feet (one meter) high. Found across much of the Martian surface, they fall in size between smaller ripples and larger sand dunes. Many are thought to be remnants from a time when Mars had a thicker atmosphere<\/a> and stronger winds, possibly indicating shifts in climate over millions of years. Some even show signs of fractured crests<\/a>, hinting at long-term exposure to changing conditions.<\/p>\n At Kerrlaguna, the megaripples are considered “inactive,” meaning they haven’t visibly shifted in recent years. Previous research has shown that unlike ripples on Earth, which shift constantly under the influence of wind and water, Martian megaripples<\/a> consist of fine sand beneath a layer of coarse grains. This makes them more resistant to drifting by wind.<\/p>\n Still, high-resolution satellite observations have shown that some megaripples across Mars do move<\/a> \u2014 albeit slowly, creeping about one meter every nine Earth years. While sluggish compared to active dunes, this movement is still evidence that the Martian surface is not geologically dead as was once thought, scientists say.<\/p>\n A gif showing the change in wind patterns over the sand dunes of Mars (Image credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/UArizona)<\/p>\n “The field is evolving in the sense that high-resolution images have finally been obtained over a long enough time span to allow the megaripple movement to be detected,” Jim Zimbelman, a planetary geologist at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, previously told Astronomy Magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some of the most dynamic examples have been observed in Mars’ north polar region, where wintertime carbon dioxide ice temporarily cements dunes and ripples. When spring arrives, the ice sublimates and summertime winds reawaken the movement of the sand<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n Ripple patterns can be seen in the sand dunes on the surface of Mars. (Image credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/University of Arizona)<\/p>\n To investigate the features at Kerrlaguna, Perseverance deployed several of its science instruments, including cameras and tools for analyzing the chemistry and structure of rock and soil. These help scientists study the size, layering and composition of sand grains, as well as detect salty crusts that may have formed over time.<\/p>\n Such crusts could hold clues about past interactions with water, and may even offer valuable resources for future human missions. These findings “help us prepare for the day when astronauts explore the Red Planet and need resources held within Martian soils to help them survive,” the statement says.<\/p>\n The rover’s stop at Kerrlaguna follows an earlier attempt to climb a rocky slope toward a site called Midtoya, where Perseverance struggled to make progress over loose, uneven terrain and ultimately turned back, the agency said.<\/p>\n Still, the effort yielded valuable data after the rover analyzed several rocks<\/a> that likely rolled down from Midtoya, including one rock dubbed “Horneflya,” which drew attention online for its unusual, medieval helmet-like shape.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/wLaqRB8BcHK8XgpqshBVTo.gif\")
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