Researcher Dr. Peterson, an expert in geological science and engineering, has discovered a mineral that could explain the mountainous landscape of Mars – and could have implications for NASA’s next mission to the Red Planet. Dr. Peterson suggests that Mars was likely wetter in the past. All of the images that are coming back from the rovers show layering in the rock which is indicative of sediment manipulated by water. This kind of out-wash would require a fair amount of water on the planet at some point. The discovery was made in Dr. Peterson’s unheated garage using epsomite, also known as Epsom salts. The solution was left to crystallize for several days at temperatures below freezing, which formed crystals that have unusual properties. The crystals were then rapidly melted, which created mould-like channels and gullies – similar to what we see on the surface of Mars. This indicates that Martian terrain may have been created in a similar fashion.

Crystal molds on Mars: Melting of a possible new mineral species to create Martian chaotic terrain

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Cydonia_s_Face_on_Mars_in_3D_animation

First results from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter provide provocative new evidence that there were diverse watery habitats capable of supporting life on Mars eons ago. MRO is also finding evidence of recent Martian climate changes only hundreds of years apart that could influence Earth climate studies. MRO has already found unexpectedly narrow banding in the north Martian polar cap, providing a window into periods of rapid and somewhat recent climate change on Mars. The data could help researchers address issues such as global warming on Earth, where there’s debate about whether rapid climate changes are affected by human activity, which is no factor on Mars. The spacecraft’s high-resolution cameras are starting to be focused on several thousand preplanned Martian targets to answer specific questions, in addition to seeking new targets. Some geologic features showing up in HiRISE imagery never seen before on Mars from an orbiter are: small-scale features like joints in rocks where rocks have fractured but not moved apart; evidence for water flow along some of those joints; rocks and boulders at scales smaller than ever seen before; much smaller water gullies than previously seen.
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HiRISE Images