Mars mounds reveal ancient water presence and support ocean theory

Researchers have discovered over 15,000 mounds on Mars that contain clay minerals formed by liquid water nearly four billion years ago. This finding supports the idea that Mars once had a large northern ocean. The mounds, located in Chryse Planitia, show layered deposits of clay, indicating a significant presence of water in Mars' past. This evidence suggests that Mars had a warmer, wetter climate during its Noachian era. The upcoming European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin rover will explore nearby Oxia Planum, which is geologically linked to these mounds. This mission aims to investigate whether Mars ever had an ocean and if life existed there.