Vietnamese scientists seek water traces on Mars

In Trung’s study, 27 years old, the Geological – Biological Chemistry, Umeå University (Sweden) has just won the LPI Career Development of the Moon and Planet Institute in the United States. The annual award for excellent young researchers worldwide in the field of multidisciplinary sciences related to research orientations of the American Space Agency (NASA).

The study of the medium application of X -ray spectroscopy and diffraction methods to analyze minerals such as clay and salt in extreme conditions such as extremely cold or extremely dry, to find traces of water on Mars. This planet is considered a large icy desert with a high salt content, where liquid water does not exist on the surface due to the very low temperature and pressure at an average of -51 ° C and 6 MBAR respectively. This pressure is about 100 times thinner than the atmospheric pressure on Earth.

Trung said the tape and steam were found on Mars. Under the surface of Mars, there may be more appropriate conditions for water to exist in liquid form in clay and salt. Through data from satellite and self -propelled robots, many minerals have been found on Mars, including clay and mineral salts.

According to Trung, some salts such as eating salt (NaCl) can absorb steam or dissolve ribbons at temperatures below 0 ℃ depending on the condition of moisture and temperature in the air to form “thin water film” or “temporary saline”. Because clay has the ability to absorb and store well, these “temporary saline” sources can be accumulated in clay, increasing the flexibility of ions and promoting many chemical reactions such as ion exchange reactions between them. The formation of “temporary salt water” can be observed with the naked eye in hot and humid conditions as in Vietnam is expressed by the phenomenon of rinse salt. However, the “thin water film” formed in clay and on the surface of anhydrous crystal crystal at cold conditions can only be observed by molecular levels such as the spectrum of oscillation and X -ray diffraction.

In the laboratory, Trung has researched and analyzed fake Mars from clay and mineral salts by the above analysis methods in drought and extremely low temperatures (-100 ℃) in order to prevent conditions on this planet, and survey the ability to retain water through their steam absorption and increase their bandages.

Experimental experiments from 2023 to now, the results show that salt significantly increases the amount of steam absorbed in clay from air even in extremely dry conditions. Clay can also accumulate salt water very well, helping to keep water in time even at low temperatures. At the same time, clay and salt mixture capable of dissolving ribbons at a much lower temperature than expected. The chemical interaction between clay and mineral salts is detected in drought conditions.

The study opens an important hypothesis that under the surface of Mars can exist thin membranes or small water bags, providing a more appropriate environment for chemical reactions and can even support microorganisms if any.

After scientific publication, the universal data of this study will be included in the scientific database and compare with the data collected from satellites and self -propelled exploration robots on Mars, such as Perseverance or Curiosity.

Through research, Trung and his colleagues assessed the chemical interactions between minerals in solid phase under harsh conditions as on Mars. “Understanding the mechanism of formation and retention of water on Mars not only helps explore this planet but also aims to find life and bring people here in the future,” Master Trung said. He said that previous studies often conducted at the atmosphere of the Earth or focused only on a certain group of minerals without considering the interaction between them. His research focuses on the chemical interaction between clay and salt under extreme conditions similar to the environment on Mars instead of a separate survey of each mineral, salt as before.

Trung said he would join the experimental data in the laboratory with remote sensing data from Mars orbit. This will help more accurately assess the ability of water to exist in this planet surface.

Nguyen Quoc Trung, a hometown of Dong Nai, is an alumni of inorganic chemistry at the University of Natural Sciences, National University of Ho Chi Minh City. He is studying at Umeå University (Sweden), pursuing the direction of geological and inorganic chemical research.