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Nasa's Curiosity rover has made many discoveries since it first landed on Mars in 2012 - but its latest find has surprised scientists in a big way!

The US space agency shared the news that Curiosity has now found some yellow-green crystals made of sulphur for the very first time.

What makes the spot even more impressive is that the rover came across them by complete accident.

Curiosity drove over a rock and cracked it open - which revealed the rare stones!

Oops!

What did scientists find on Mars?

Since October 2023, the rover has been exploring a part of Mars which scientists know is rich with sulfates, a type of salt that forms when sulphur mixes with other minerals in water.

But what makes this discovery special is that it's the first time that scientists have found pure sulphur on Mars.

Curiosity’s project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada said: “It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it.

"Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting,” he added.

Curiosity found the crystals while driving on Mount Sharp, a three-mile tall mountain located on Mars, which the rover has been climbing since 2014.

According to Nasa, each layer of the mountain represents a different period of Martian history.

Curiosity’s mission is to study where and when the red planet’s ancient terrain could have provided the nutrients needed for microbial life - and if any ever formed on Mars.

What is Nasa's Curiosity rover?

Curiosity landed on Mars on 6 August 2012.

The rover has been exploring the surface of Mars since arriving, and has made some pretty cool discoveries - even taking the first selfie on Mars!

The robot's mission is to search for evidence of life and to learn more about the planet.

It can take pictures, collect samples and study the surface of the planet - and then beam the information back to scientists on Earth.