Grotzinger emphasized that similar features have been sought by previous rovers since the 2004 missions of Opportunity and Spirit.

Recent findings indicate that liquid water existed on Mars approximately 3.7 billion years ago, challenging earlier beliefs that the planet was already drying out.

This finding marks a significant advancement in our understanding of Mars' paleoclimate, as prior missions had not confirmed the existence of ancient lakes free of ice.

John Grotzinger, a co-author of the study and former project scientist for Curiosity, highlighted the importance of these findings for paleoclimatology on Mars.

The study, led by John Grotzinger and Michael Lamb from Caltech, has been published in the journal Science Advances.

Researcher Claire Mondro from the California Institute of Technology noted that the formation of these ripples required an open body of water influenced by wind.

This discovery sheds light on Mars' early climate and suggests a greater potential for microbial habitability in its ancient history.

NASA's Curiosity rover, which has been exploring the Gale Crater since 2012, identified these ripple formations in 2022.

The ripples were found in two specific areas: the Prow outcrop and the Amapari Marker Band, indicating significant geological features.

These ripple formations, measuring about six millimeters high and spaced four to five centimeters apart, imply the existence of a shallow lake less than two meters deep.

The Prow outcrop is indicative of ancient wind-blown dunes, while the Amapari Marker Band suggests the presence of a shallow lake with depths of up to two meters.

The publication of these findings represents a crucial advancement in understanding Mars' climatic history.