Stratified Martian mud patterns

Of Mars and mud

To reach the layered clay mounds known as the Bentonite Hills, you'll need a solid, high-clearance off-road vehicle. And if it rains, good luck: The mud that forms in these monsoon-touched Utah uplands could get a monster truck stuck. Speaking of risk-fraught excursions, not far from here, a rotating cast of experts prep for a different sort of wild journey. The Mars Desert Research Station operates nearby as an analog habitat, simulating challenges a settlement on Mars might face. Small groups of scientists, journalists, and others perform simulated missions in this environment that, during the winter cold, is thought to closely resemble conditions on the Red Planet.