Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the second smallest planet in the solar system. People often call it the “red planet” and it is named after the Roman god of war. It was known as the "fire star" to ancient Chinese astronomers. Mars' small atmosphere and its large distance from the sun show that Mars is much colder than Earth.
It should be too cold to have water on its surface. Salts in the ground of Mars are allowing its freezing temperature to lower, letting salty films to form.
NASA scientists say that Mars used to have a big ocean on it. Something happened to it so Mars lost all of its water mostly on its grounds and in its atmosphere. “Mars is not the dry, arid planet we thought,” says Dr Jim Green, director of Planetary science for NASA.Did life ever arise on Mars? NASA scientists don’t know yet.
In 2010, NASA scientists saw dark lines on slopes on Mars. The dark streaks form in late spring, grow through the summer, then disappear by fall. “NASA’s announcement overturns some red planet theories.” said NASA. But recently, NASA scientists have gathered information that proves that there is water on Mars. Astronomers have noticed that observations of Mars show that rivers and oceans may have been important in its early history. Mars was a warm and humid place that could have supported small life in some parts of it but that was a very long time ago. The planet is smaller than Earth, with not a lot of gravity. Over time, as the water on Mars disappeared, more and more of it floated into space, allowing a small amount to fall back on to the ground of the the red planet.
"The detection of hydrated salts on these slopes means that water plays a vital role in the formation of these streaks," the study's lead author, Lujendra Ojha of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, said in a statement. President Barack Obama predicted a Mars mission to go to the planet by the mid 2030s, with a good landing. Who is going to be the first person to go on Mars? A 13 year old girl named Alyssa Carson wants to be the first astronaut on Mars and she has been training for nine years. Someday, we might know if there really is water on Mars.
Water on Mars
By: Ella Lepkowski
FRINGE IS BACK IN A WHOLE NEW YEAR!
By Eliana Hurwitz and Sophia Gunther
Fringe is back in style. Did you know that fringe was a thing in the 1920s and now it's back in 2015? That favorite cut fabric that you normally wear during the summer that hangs down at the bottom of your favorite tank top is back in town but it is a little different. Now it can be anywhere on a piece of clothing such as arms and legs.
We’ve seen it on the end of sleeves, the bottom of shirts, and on boots. We don’t know how long it will last so let's wait and see.
PATCHWORK DRESSES, ALSO BUTTONS
By Sophia Gunther
Patchwork (seriously,who thinks of this stuff?) is silk and cotton mashed together in one design. People create patchwork by either sewing by hand or on a sewing machine.This thing designers make is incredible. It takes so much precision to make these patchwork dresses and ponchos that go down till your ankle or knees.
Fashion Column