AI Reveals Mars’s Mysterious Slope Streaks Likely Formed by Dust 421nl Not Water Activity

AI finds Mars's dark slope streaks likely caused by dust, not flowing water. 103g5q

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 9 June 2025 11:53 IST

AI Reveals Mars’s Mysterious Slope Streaks Likely Formed by Dust, Not Water Activity

Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona 1m2a2w

Martian slope streaks likely formed by wind-driven dust, not seasonal water flows

Highlights

Martian streaks, once thought to show water, may result from dust movem
AI studied 86,000 images to produce a global map of Martian slope strea
Dark streaks mostly appear in areas with strong winds and thick dust la

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Unexplained dark streaks on Mars, thought to be evidence of liquid water flow in recent years, could just be marks left by blowing sand and dust, according to new artificial intelligence (AI) research. First detected by NASA's Viking mission in 1976, these streaks are dark, narrow lines that creep down some Martian slopes and cliffs. Scientists had initially suspected that salty water runoff caused them, especially given their seasonal nature. An AI that has been taught to find streak patterns has recently called that notion into question, saying that the characteristics show up where dust and wind are strong.

AI Analysis Reveals Mars's Dark Slope Streaks Likely Caused by Dust, Not Flowing Water 2o626t

As per a Nature Communications report published on May 19, researchers used a machine learning algorithm trained on thousands of confirmed streaks to analyse over 86,000 satellite images. In one such study by Brown University, slope streaks were more likely to occur in heavily dusty regions with strong wind activity. The authors compared a global map of 500,000 streaks to climate and geology and found that dry processes were most likely to be forming these streaks.

The streaks are called slope streaks and Mars. Now it seems more plausible that they were formed by thin layers of dust slipping off steep slopes rather than liquid water running over the top.

New Study Uses AI to Reveal Dry Origins of Mars’ Mysterious Slope Streaks

If validated, these findings could reshape the priorities of Mars exploration. Areas once believed to hold signs of ancient water — and thus possible microbial life — may be misleading. Valantinas noted that AI lets researchers rule out improbable theories from a distance, which cuts down on the need to deploy missions to less viable places. The findings might potentially make it easier to find real biosignatures on future expeditions.

This new research is helping to winnow out dead ends on Mars's geologic history and ability to life, scientists stated, as AI and more advanced missions shape up to hone our understanding.

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