NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has taken the first ever close-up images of gigantic Martian “spiderwebs” on the Red Planet. The zig-zagging ridges, which were left behind by ancient groundwater, could reveal more about Mars’ watery past and provide clues about whether the planet once harbored extraterrestrial life, researchers say.
The web-like features, known as “boxwork,” are made up of criss-crossing ridges of mineral-rich rocks that infrequently litter the surface of Mars. The patterns can span up to 12 miles (20 kilometers) across and look as if they have been spun by giant arachnids when viewed from space. Yet, until now, these structures have never been studied up close.