NASA's Perseverance Mars has uncovered unusual features in rocks that suggest there may have once been life on the Red Planet, according to a new study.

Why it matters: This discovery "is the closest we've actually come to discovering ancient life on Mars," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA's science mission directorate, at a Wednesday briefing on the findings of the study that were published in the journal Nature. • Sean Duffy, NASA's acting administrator, said at the briefing the discovery could "very well could be the clearest sign of life that we've ever found on Mars," though officials emphasized that more research was needed.

Driving the news: Perseverance was exploring the "Bright Angel" formation, a set of rocky outcrops in the ancient river valley of Neretva Vall

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