back to article Geoboffins spot hundreds of ghost dunes on Mars

Mars was once covered in hundreds of giant dunes as big as the US Capitol Building billions of years ago, according to new research. A pair of scientists from the University of Washington have discovered more than 300 crescent-shaped structures wedged into the eastern side of Hellas Planitia, an impact crater measuring over 2, …

  1. ninjaturtle

    Just a matter of time until they find spice as well..

    1. Grikath

      whelp... Going by the source, there should be a high concentration in the larva channels mentioned in the article...

      1. tony2heads
        Alien

        Larva

        If this is the hole that the larva made, I would hate to meet the adult form

        1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      It certainly feels like were cumin to that point.

      1. Lee D Silver badge

        That's saffron-t to my sensibilities...

        1. ravenviz Silver badge

          Wouldn't worry, they died off a long thyme ago.

  2. Ralph the Wonder Llama
    Joke

    That's no dune

    What?

  3. Andy The Hat Silver badge

    Giant?

    Compared to a lot on Earth they're certainly not 'giants' - the larger deserts of the world have dunes hundreds of meters high. Maybe these are giants on the Martian dune scale?

    As it's a photograph, perhaps ninjaturtle is right - it was taken as the sandworms were breaking the surface and another shot is needed to confirm movement ...

  4. This post has been deleted by its author

    1. Pen-y-gors

      Re: Someone's dangled their modifier!

      And how big is it now? In standard Reg units please? Bigger or smaller than Drumpf's ego? Bigger or smaller than Drumpf's manservant hands?

    2. Wellyboot Silver badge
      Headmaster

      Re: Someone's dangled their modifier!

      All the current Capitol buildings atoms were the same size as now, just arranged differently.

      1. Loyal Commenter Silver badge
        Headmaster

        Re: Someone's dangled their modifier!

        I'd suggest that since some may be decay products from radioactive elements, then some at least will be smaller now than they were back then.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Joke

      Re: Someone's dangled their modifier!

      > How big was the US Capitol Building billions of years ago?

      The Capitol Building existed on Mars billions of years ago ?!?

      1. jake Silver badge

        Re: Someone's dangled their modifier!

        And is that a short billion or a long billion?

        1. Marcelo Rodrigues
          Joke

          Re: Someone's dangled their modifier!

          "And is that a short billion or a long billion?"

          Don't be silly! It's a scientific article: they used the metric billion!

        2. woodjesse48

          Re: Someone's dangled their modifier!

          that would be METRIC BILLIONS

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    We found a rock!!!

    I hate need for sponsored/hyped content and even here, research. "We found a rock" becomes, "we found a rock that may have rolled near the possibility of *life*, it may have possibly coughed near a *climate change*, and then quantum/cloud storage/bitconnect!!!!"

    Ok, I exaggerate, and in no means suggest the data or research is suspect, but the write up (paper at times and media mostly) is as full of buzzwords and made meaningless by both social pressures and beancounters/marketing. :(

  6. spold Silver badge

    Packing list for first manned Mars mission:

    - bucket and spade...

    - "kiss me quick" hat....

    I'm sure you can already find a stick of rock (might not have "Mars" through the middle of it).

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    There is nowt there.

    Deal with it.

    1. Uffish

      Re: Deal with it..

      I would love to deal with it for you, just how big a budget have you got, and are you planning on coming along as well?

    2. jake Silver badge

      Re: There is nowt there.

      Nowt? Really? Then what has Curiosity been rolling over all these years?

  8. Mokolo

    Re: Giant?

    We could understand the scale if only we could understand the units used in the article. Were these parking meters or electricity meters?

    1. Stoneshop
      Boffin

      Re: Giant?

      The dunes at Noctis Labyrinthus are about 285.71429 linguine, 0.28925748 brontosaurus high, the ones at Hellas basin are about 535.71429 linguine, 0.54235778 brontosaurus high.

      Better?

  9. Woodnag

    With respect, everyone...

    ... that picture is just of someone's worn tyre tread.

  10. Anonymous South African Coward Bronze badge

    "I am the Kwisawtz Haderach. That is reason enough"...

    1. Chris G

      Eh? What was that?

      Kwickfry Halibut?

      1. The Oncoming Scorn Silver badge
        Go

        Gurney Haddock.

        FTFY

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