NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered evidence of ancient, hospitable environments on Mars, including dried-up lake beds and ripple formations on ancient shorelines.

These ripples, formed around 3.7 billion years ago, were likely created by small waves on open-air lakes, suggesting Mars was once warm, wet, and capable of supporting life.

The findings extend the timeline for potential microbial habitability, showing that shallow lakes existed in an atmosphere open to wind, Mashable has reported.

While no evidence of Martian life has been found, the discovery supports the idea that the planet once had conditions favorable for life.

Written by B.C. Begley