Cheyava Falls
The most compelling evidence for ancient life on Mars found to date.
Visual Provenance
This is a raw image from the Perseverance rover's SHERLOC instrument. It focuses on the 'leopard spots'—millimeter-scale chemical halos that on Earth are signs of microbial life. The visual rationale is to present the evidence exactly as the rover sees it: a grainy, ambiguous, but potentially world-changing pattern in the rock, inviting the viewer to act as the scientist.
The Leopard Spots
On July 21, 2024, NASA's Perseverance rover analyzed a rock named 'Cheyava Falls' and found something unprecedented: millimeter-sized, off-white splotches surrounded by black rings, resembling leopard spots. On Earth, these patterns form when chemical reactions involving hematite turn rock from red to white, releasing iron and phosphate—energy sources for microbes.
A Triad of Evidence
The rock presents a 'triad' of promising signs: organic molecules, the leopard spots indicating chemical energy transfer, and calcium sulfate veins suggesting the presence of water. While non-biological processes can also create these features, finding them all together in an ancient river valley makes Cheyava Falls a prime candidate for sample return and further study.
Cheyava Falls Hoodie
Own a piece of history. Premium heavyweight cotton hoodie featuring the Cheyava Falls artifact.
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