The innermost planet in the solar system wouldn’t normally make a likely candidate for harbouring ice, but Mercury, it seems, is an exception. Researchers from NASA, MIT, and the University of California at Los Angeles have recently found that the winged messenger may contain reserves of water and ice in the shadows of its largest craters.
With surface temperatures often reaching a sweltering 800°F — hot enough to liquefy lead — it seems that the existence of ice on Mercury is a sheer physical impossibility. Although it is true that most of the planet’s surface is exposed to temperatures well above the boiling point of water, there are regions near the north pole that are perpetually cast in shadow. Images taken by NASA’s MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) probe have revealed the existence of these regions, mostly residing near the towering walls of giant craters. The mission was praised throughout the scientific community as a breakthrough because the probe was able to overcome the difficulties associated with generating high-resolution images while maintaining a highly elliptical orbit. Previous measurements had never come close to MESSENGER’s level of precision and resolution.
In addition to finding ice, the NASA probe may have found evidence for organic material within these craters. Often said to be indicators for the existence of life, these organic chemicals are the precursors to biological molecules such as DNA and amino acids. Scientists speculate that both ice and organic material came to Mercury from comets that landed on its surface.
Source: Science Daily
