**Study Suggests Mars May Have Once Supported Oceans and Beaches**
Researchers from the United States and China have reported findings indicating that Mars may have once had oceans and beaches, based on subsurface data from the red planet.
A collaborative team from Penn State University and Guangzhou University analyzed images captured by the Chinese Curiosity rover. Their investigation revealed patterns in the subsurface structure of Mars that bear a striking resemblance to coastal regions on Earth.
The researchers observed that the inclined subsurface formations on Mars mirror the slopes found in Earth’s soils that lead to plains or oceans. This data supports the idea that beaches and oceans once existed on Mars.
They also noted that the geographic positions of these potential beaches might have shifted over time, with some formations showing a northward tilt, suggesting that the beaches may have migrated toward the ocean throughout Martian history.
The team determined that one particular beach “extends at least 1.3 kilometers north towards the ocean,” indicating the presence of a river nearby, which would have contributed to tidal activity, waves, and sediment deposition.
In a statement to *The Guardian*, study co-author Benjamin Cardenas emphasized that the structures observed do not resemble volcanoes or sand dunes. He highlighted the need to investigate these formations for potential signs of past life, as they suggest the existence of both a beach and an ocean.
The results of this study were published in the journal *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*.
