Mystery of Crater Rays Solved Thanks To Sandbox Play

This spectacular impact crater on Mars, imaged by HiRISE on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, spans 100 feet (30 meters) and shows a clear system of rays in enhanced color.(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona) Fiery chunks of rock are constantly bombarding the planetary bodies of our solar system, leaving behind long-lasting scars. These gouges, in the form of craters, can be used to learn about the history of our little nook in the vast universe, prompting scientists to feverishly study their features. Yet one pattern commonly found around craters has remained a puzzle. Sometimes, these craters contain radial rays of debris fanned out around the impact zone. In the lab, scientists have tried to reproduce these patterns by dropping balls into containers of sand or beads, yet have found little success. But in a recent study published June 27 in the journal