{"id":55153,"date":"2025-02-04T10:38:20","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T10:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=55153"},"modified":"2025-02-04T10:38:20","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T10:38:20","slug":"nasa-awards-new-grant-to-study-sand-dunes-on-mars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/nasa-awards-new-grant-to-study-sand-dunes-on-mars\/55153\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA awards new grant to study sand dunes on Mars"},"content":{"rendered":"
NASA has awarded Texas A&M Geology & Geophysics PhD student Lauren Berger funding for a project that could reveal new insights into the Red Planet\u2019s wind patterns, atmospheric conditions and more.<\/p>\n
The funding is part of NASA\u2019s FINESST (Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology) grant<\/a>, which supports innovative research in earth and planetary sciences.<\/p>\n Berger\u2019s project, \u2018Insights into the Martian Environment Through Pattern Analysis of Compound Dunes\u2019, focuses on studying dunes on Mars using high-resolution images captured by NASA’s orbiting cameras.<\/p>\n These compound dunes \u2013 dunes with smaller dunes layered on top \u2013 are well-documented on Earth but remain unexplored on Mars.<\/p>\n \u201cThe shape and pattern of these aeolian bedforms\u2014geologic features shaped by wind\u2014can tell us so much about the environment,\u201d Berger explained.<\/p>\n \u201cBy comparing compound dunes on Mars to those on Earth, we can uncover similarities and differences that could help us better understand the Martian surface and atmosphere<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n As part of her research at Texas A&M with the FINESST grant, Berger\u2019s first step is identifying all the compound dunes on Mars.<\/p>\n Using high-resolution images from NASA’s Context Camera<\/a> and High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment<\/a>, she will study their shapes and compare them to similar dunes on Earth to better understand how they form and what they reveal about the Martian environment.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter years of looking at sand ripples as hazards for the Perseverance Rover, which is a NASA robot exploring Mars and searching for signs of past life, I wanted to dive deeper into the science behind them,\u201d Berger said.<\/p>\n This groundbreaking research is supported by the FINESST programme, which awarded funding to only 156 projects out of 1,120 submissions. With such a competitive selection process, winning this grant is both rare and significant.<\/p>\n \u201cThe FINESST grant is a great accomplishment for which Lauren can be proud. It will allow her to focus on her research, strengthen her relationship with NASA, and grow as a leader in earth and planetary sciences,\u201d stated \u00a0Dr Julia Reece, Berger\u2019s adviser and an assistant professor in the Department of Geology & Geophysics.<\/p>\n Dr Marion Nachon, the principal investigator for the research project and an associate research scientist in the department, emphasised how rare and valuable the FINESST grant is for young researchers, offering a unique opportunity to advance their careers.<\/p>\n \u201cWith this highly competitive FINESST grant award, Lauren is getting an exceptional opportunity to pursue her growth as a motivated and promising scientist,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Discover how sand dunes on Mars might hold the key to understanding the planet\u2019s mysterious surface and environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":55154,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[771],"tags":[818,809],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDiscovering how sand dunes on Mars impact its environment<\/h3>\n
The FINESST grant is a prestigious award<\/h3>\n