At our first press conference today, we learned how a mysterious set of formations on Mars known as “razorbacks” may be made by static cling, rather than water. Razorbacks are spikes in the Martian soil, about a millimetre wide and a centimetre high. Scientists had theorized that water flowing through fractures on the surface might have created these dainty peaks.

Not so fast, says Troy Shinbrot of Rutgers University. By sliding tiny glass beads down a table, Shinbrot created similar structures here on earth. The terrestrial razorbacks were built up by the static cling of the beads rubbing together. Shinbrot believes that a similar process could be at work on Mars, especially since the dry atmosphere would facilitate static build-up.

This isn’t the first water on Mars theory Shinbrot has debunked. In 2004 he showed that the low gravity of Mars could cause dust to flow like water, creating gullies similar to those made by streams here on Earth.

At our first press conference today, we learned how a mysterious set of formations on Mars known as “razorbacks” may be made by static cling, rather than water. Razorbacks are spikes in the Martian soil, about a millimetre wide and a centimetre high. Scientists had theorized that water flowing through fractures on the surface might have created these dainty peaks.

Not so fast, says Troy Shinbrot of Rutgers University. By sliding tiny glass beads down a table, Shinbrot created similar structures here on earth. The terrestrial razorbacks were built up by the static cling of the beads rubbing together. Shinbrot believes that a similar process could be at work on Mars, especially since the dry atmosphere would facilitate static build-up.

This isn’t the first water on Mars theory Shinbrot has debunked. In 2004 he showed that the low gravity of Mars could cause dust to flow like water, creating gullies similar to those made by streams here on Earth.