NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered unusual geological formations on Mars resembling spiderwebs, sparking new questions about the planet’s past and the potential for ancient microbial life.
The rover has been exploring a region characterized by “boxwork” formations for approximately six months – low ridges standing roughly 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) tall with sandy hollows between them. These structures, which stretch for miles across the Martian surface, suggest that groundwater flowed in the area later than previously thought. This discovery, announced on February 23, 2026, could reshape our understanding of Mars’s hydrological history.
Scientists believe the formations originated when mineral deposits filled fractures in the bedrock. Over time, wind erosion removed the softer rock, leaving behind the more durable mineral ridges. The resulting patterns, visible from space, bear a striking resemblance to intricate spiderwebs. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory detailed the findings in a recent release.
Curiosity likewise identified pea-sized, bumpy nodules along the walls of the ridges and within the hollows. These nodules, first observed on August 21, 2025, are believed to have formed as minerals precipitated out of drying groundwater billions of years ago. NASA Science reports that the rover used its Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) to capture a 50-image mosaic of the nodules.
Previously, orbital images showed mysterious dark lines on the boxwork formations. Curiosity’s close-up observations have now confirmed that these lines are central fractures where minerals concentrated. Surprisingly, the rover did not find nodules near these fractures, but rather along the ridge walls and in the hollows.
The extended presence of groundwater suggested by these formations raises the possibility that Mars may have supported microbial life for a longer period than previously estimated, before its surface became the frozen desert it is today. The findings underscore the importance of continued exploration to unravel the mysteries of the Red Planet’s past and its potential for habitability.
