The latest images from Mars reveal unusual rock formations, dust devils, and new details of Jezero Crater, one of the most scientifically significant regions on the Red Planet.

The latest photographs returned by NASA’s missions offer a view of Mars in greater detail than ever before. The images come from orbiting spacecraft and the Perseverance rover, which continues exploring Jezero Crater to study the composition of the terrain. Among the dunes, mountains, and vast canyons, several rock formations have caught the attention of researchers.

The most talked-about structures stand out because some rocks appear to be balanced on top of one another. Their appearance has sparked all kinds of speculation online, although scientific teams rule out explanations involving artificial activity or the presence of life. The most likely explanation still points to geological processes that unfolded over millions of years.

The photographs were taken on May 13 at several locations within Jezero Crater, a site chosen because of its geological history. Scientists believe this basin was once a lake billions of years ago, when the planet had very different conditions from today and liquid water existed on its surface.

The observed formations do not fit easily into the standard models used to interpret the Martian landscape. On Earth, similar features can form through water erosion, volcanic activity, or temperature changes, but there is still no definitive explanation for how these configurations formed on Mars.

One possibility researchers are considering is that an original rock split into multiple layers due to the long-term action of wind or water. Even so, they stress that additional data will be needed before confirming this hypothesis, as the current images do not answer all the questions.

NASA’s new images reveal a planet that is constantly changing
Data returned by NASA’s missions support an idea that is becoming increasingly accepted among scientists. Far from being a static world, Mars still experiences atmospheric and geological processes that slowly reshape its surface over time.

Read More: NASA photographs something inexplicable on Mars: strange balancing rocks puzzle scientists