Scientists say they might have identified the mineral on Mars that is responsible for making the planet appear red.
科学家表示，他们可能已经发现了火星上使火星呈现红色的矿物质。
New data collected on Mars through several methods suggests the substance, called ferrihydrite, is likely found in dust and rock material across wide areas of the planet. The team carrying out the research describes ferrihydrite as an “iron oxide mineral.”
通过多种方法在火星上收集的新数据表明，这种称为水铁矿的物质很可能存在于地球广泛区域的尘埃和岩石材料中。进行该研究的团队将水铁矿描述为“氧化铁矿物”。
The mineral appears reddish in color and can form in water-rich environments. The scientists said discovering large amounts of it on Mars adds to existing evidence that the planet might have held a large supply of liquid water in the past.
这种矿物呈淡红色，可以在富含水的环境中形成。科学家们表示，在火星上发现大量液态水，进一步证明了火星过去可能存在大量液态水。
The research was carried out by an international team led by America’s Brown University and the University of Bern in Switzerland. The findings recently appeared in a study published in Nature Communications .
该研究由美国布朗大学和瑞士伯尔尼大学领导的国际团队进行。该发现最近发表在《自然通讯》杂志上的一项研究中。
The researchers noted that scientists have long wondered about the exact substance that gives Mars – which is also known as the Red Planet – its deep red color. Past studies had suggested a mineral called hematite might be the cause.
研究人员指出，科学家们长期以来一直想知道火星（也被称为红色星球）呈现深红色的确切物质。过去的研究表明，一种叫做赤铁矿的矿物可能是原因。
The study is based on Martian data collected by several spacecraft. These include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, operated by the American space agency NASA. In addition, information was captured by instruments aboard the European Space Agency’s (ESA's) Mars Express and Trace Gas orbiters. Some data also came from exploring vehicles, called rovers, operating on Mars.
该研究基于多个航天器收集的火星数据。其中包括由美国航天局美国宇航局运营的火星勘测轨道飞行器。此外，欧洲航天局 (ESA) 火星快车和微量气体轨道飞行器上的仪器还捕获了信息。一些数据还来自在火星上运行的探索车辆，称为漫游车。
In their examinations, the researchers also used manmade, or synthetic, material designed to look and feel similar to real Martian dust.
在他们的检查中，研究人员还使用了人造或合成材料，其外观和感觉与真正的火星尘埃相似。
Adomas Valantinas currently works as a researcher at Brown University’s Department of Earth, Environment & Planetary Sciences. He helped write the study. Valantinas noted the mystery of why Mars is red had been considered “for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.”
Adomas Valantinas 目前在布朗大学地球、环境与行星科学系担任研究员。他帮助撰写了这项研究。瓦兰蒂纳斯指出，人们“数百年甚至数千年”都在思考火星为何呈红色的谜团。
Valantinas recognized his team was not the first to consider ferrihydrite as a possible reason for the coloring of Mars. But he noted, “it has never been proven as we have now, using observational data and novel laboratory methods…”
瓦兰蒂纳斯认识到，他的团队并不是第一个将水铁矿视为火星着色的可能原因的团队。但他指出，“它从未像我们现在这样通过观察数据和新颖的实验室方法得到证实……”
Valantinas noted the discovery of widespread ferrihydrite suggests Mars once held liquid water that would have made it possible for the planet to support some form of life.
瓦兰蒂纳斯指出，广泛分布的水铁矿的发现表明火星曾经拥有液态水，这使得该星球能够支持某种形式的生命。
"Our study reveals that ferrihydrite formation on Mars required the presence of both oxygen…and water capable of reacting with iron,” he added. “These conditions were very different from the dry, cold environment of Mars today."
“我们的研究表明，火星上水铁矿的形成需要氧气的存在……以及能够与铁发生反应的水，”他补充道。 “这些条件与今天火星干燥、寒冷的环境非常不同。”
John Mustard is a planetary expert at Brown University and was a co-writer of the study. He called it “a door-opening opportunity ” for future research. But he added that additional study is needed to confirm the team’s latest findings.
约翰·穆斯塔德是布朗大学的行星专家，也是该研究的合著者。他称其为未来研究的“开门机会”。但他补充说，需要进行更多研究来证实该团队的最新发现。
"As exciting as the new findings are, we realize that our results can only be verified by samples from Mars, which are currently being collected by NASA's Perseverance rover,” Mustard said. He added, “When we get those back, we will be able to check whether our theory about ferrihydrite is correct."
穆斯塔德说：“尽管新发现令人兴奋，但我们意识到我们的结果只能通过来自火星的样本来验证，这些样本目前正在由美国宇航局的毅力号火星车收集。”他补充道，“当我们拿回这些数据时，我们将能够检查我们关于水铁矿的理论是否正确。”