<ul><li>NASA's Mars Perseverance rover 'smooshed' a pile of tailings named 'Green Gardens' in order to prepare a smooth area for the SHERLOC instrument, which searches for organic compounds and signs of past microbial life on Mars.</li><li>The uppermost surface of most rocks on Mars has been exposed to UV rays and the atmosphere, making it difficult to find fresh samples for studying organic compounds.</li><li>By compacting the drill tailings into a flat and stable patch with the rover's contact sensor, the SHERLOC instrument was able to successfully scan the fresh tailings for astrobiologically interesting minerals.</li><li>This innovative approach demonstrates how creative thinking and problem-solving techniques maximize the scientific capabilities of the Mars Perseverance rover.</li></ul>

Smooshing for Science: A Flat-Out Success

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