The Curiosity rover recently drove over a rock, accidentally cracking it open.
Inside were shiny yellow crystals, which scientists later determined to be elemental sulfur, NASAsaid.
And there could be a whole bunch of them on Mars, but scientists arent sure how they formed.
A cracked-open rock revealed yellow crystals of sulfur.Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
It shouldnt be there, so now we have to explain it.
But this particular region that Curiosity has been exploring has shown no signs of past volcanic activity.
Pure sulfur can alsoformthrough the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds by way of microbial activity.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting, Vasavada said.
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The Curiosity rover captured this view of Gediz Vallis. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
