Spacetime With Stuart Gary

SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 11Ancient Water on Mars and the Birth of the Universe's LightsScientists have uncovered two sets of ancient wave ripples on Mars, revealing evidence of long-dried ponds and lakes that once existed on the Red Planet. Discovered by NASA's Curiosity rover, these ripples, formed approximately 3.7 billion years ago, indicate that shallow bodies of water were open to the Martian atmosphere, challenging previous climate models suggesting an ice-covered surface. This finding extends our understanding of the timeline for liquid water on Mars and its potential for microbial life.A Quasar's Role in Cosmic IlluminationAstronomers have detected a highly variable quasar that may have played a crucial role in turning on the lights of the universe. This quasar, observed by the NuSTAR and Chandra X-ray space telescopes, is one of the most distant objects detected and provides new insights into the growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe. Its rapid brightness fluctuations offer vita