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Balance paradox: Smart businesses are like riding a bicycle

‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep you balanced you must keep moving,’ wrote Albert Einstein in a letter to his son Eduard.

In a world where everything keeps moving faster and faster, is the greatest management risk not falling while you are moving forward? Is the real danger standing still, because you are afraid of losing your balance? Do leading edge companies often remain stable, not by resisting change, but by continuously adapting to it?

We often treat stability as the goal. Managers are forever creating processes, controls, always trying to reduce uncertainty, making things a touch more predictable and comfortable.

Yes, these things are important, but taken too far, they can create the very instability managers are trying to prevent. Like a bicycle that is just propped up against a wall, it can risk falling over. Just like a company that stops moving, eventually it loses its balance.

Constancy not required

Paradox is that stability can create instability. We tend to believe that by protecting staff from change we are creating security. But in practice, excessive stability can reduce an organisation’s ability to respond when change becomes unavoidable.

Down through the centuries, and in today’s AI world [and who knows what comes next], only constant is change. Markets evolve, technology changes and customer expectations shift. The writing is on the wall for those who are doing things ‘the way we have always done them’.

Counter-intuitive solution is that small, controlled changes today, can prepare a company for larger inevitable unpredicted changes of tomorrow.

On the bicycle ride

Don’t wait for perfect clarity. Gathering more data, having more meetings and develop increasingly detailed plans before taking action may not be the answer to try and get rid of that nagging uncertainty. Sometimes the fastest way to gain clarity is to just move. A small experiment, pilot project or customer conversation can reveal more than another month of analysis.

Act of movement creates information. Best to replace the various forms of prediction with experimentation.

Wobble is inevitable

A little wobble is healthy. A bicycle in motion only stays upright through constant adjustment. Your organisation works pretty much the same way. A department that never experiences disagreement, failed experiments, or uncomfortable questions may appear healthy, but it could also be avoiding learning.

Bicycle riding managers should create a space where people can challenge assumptions and test ideas, without turning every mistake into a crisis. No, the aim is not to eliminate the wobble. It is to develop the ability to recover from it quickly.

Best not to confuse activity with real progress. ‘Keep moving’ does not mean just keeping everyone busy.

Don’t confuse motion with momentum. Endless meetings, emails, dashboards and initiatives can create the appearance of progress, while in reality producing little value. Real question to ask is — What are we moving toward? A sharp leader has to distinguish between activity that consumes energy, and movement that creates meaningful progress.

Strange thing is that less top down control may create more bottom up capability. When a child learns to ride, no worried parent can maintain the bicycle’s balance for them. They have to develop their own ability to adjust.

An anxious manager, who makes every decision may keep things under control in the short-term, but the team becomes dependent on the lieutenant. Delegation is not simply about reducing a manager’s workload. It is about building an organisation capable of balancing itself.

2027: Pat Utomi rejects single candidate push, backs opposition alliance

Professor Pat Utomi has argued that cooperation among opposition parties would be more effective than forcing presidential aspirants to step down for a single candidate ahead of the 2027 election.

Utomi, a member of the Movement for Credible Elections, said opposition parties could strengthen their chances through collaboration while allowing candidates to remain in the race.

Speaking on Arise News on Tuesday, the former presidential candidate described the demand for all opposition figures to rally behind one candidate as a ‘false narrative’, arguing that opposition cooperation could take other forms, including election monitoring, vote protection and shared resources.

‘I think, in many ways, the fact that everybody must rally around one person for things to go forward is a false narrative,’ Utomi said.

He said opposition parties could compete against one another while working together to protect votes and improve the credibility of the electoral process.

Utomi described the approach as ‘co-opetition’ – a situation where political actors compete electorally while cooperating on areas of common interest.

According to him, opposition parties could jointly deploy resources such as technology, election monitors and other mechanisms to protect votes during the 2027 polls.

He also argued that a government of national unity should be built around national interest rather than political appointments or power-sharing arrangements.

Utomi said Nigeria’s political class must move beyond the pursuit of power and focus on long-term nation-building.

Reflecting on his generation’s role in the country’s development, the scholar said his generation had failed Nigerians and that younger generations had a responsibility to demand better leadership.

‘Our generation has betrayed its mission to the Nigerian people,’ he said.

On convincing presidential aspirants to prioritise collective interests over personal ambitions, Utomi said many political figures already have relationships that could make cooperation possible.

He maintained that the future of Nigeria should remain the priority as opposition parties prepare for the 2027 election.

Ambeon Capital partners Indian firms to open India-Sri Lanka investment desks, launch dedicated fund

Ambeon Capital PLC yesterday said it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sincere Syndication and Corporate Services LLP and Avyukthi Consulting and Advisory Services LLP to establish collaborative investment desks in Colombo and Chennai.

The arrangement is designed to channel cross-border capital between Sri Lanka and India across listed equities, private equity and credit, real estate and fixed income, while also supporting mergers and acquisitions and business partnerships.

The parties intend the desks to act as dedicated points of contact for deal origination, preliminary screening, research coordination, investor introductions and co-investment or referral opportunities.

The Colombo desk will be hosted by Ambeon (or an affiliate) with a primary focus on facilitating investment into India and other agreed markets, while also originating Sri Lankan opportunities. The Chennai desk will be hosted by Sincere Syndication, with Avyukthi providing tax, regulatory, structuring, diligence and transaction-support capabilities.

In parallel, Ambeon is working with the partners on the launch of a dedicated Sri Lanka fund focused on Sri Lankan companies, structured in partnership with Sincere Syndication’s Bharat Transformation Fund.

The Bharat Transformation Fund is Sincere Syndication’s flagship pre-IPO and early post-IPO vehicle targeting transformative Indian businesses in sectors aligned with national growth priorities, including advanced manufacturing, defence and aerospace, deep technology, specialty healthcare and medical devices.

The Sri Lanka fund is intended to create a structured channel for capital into listed and private Sri Lankan companies, leveraging complementary deal flow, research and investor networks on both sides of the Palk Strait.

Ambeon Capital Group CEO Dr. Sajeeva Narangoda said: ‘This partnership creates a practical bridge between two complementary markets. By combining Ambeon’s on-the-ground presence and deal flow in Sri Lanka with Sincere Syndication’s investor network and Avyukthi’s structuring capability, we can meaningfully improve the flow of capital and ideas in both directions.’

Sincere Syndication CEO Sivaramakrishnan R., said: ‘Indian capital is increasingly looking beyond domestic borders for growth opportunities. Sri Lanka offers an attractive neighborhood market with improving fundamentals. Pairing the expertise behind our Bharat Transformation Fund with a dedicated Sri Lanka vehicle allows us to serve clients seeking exposure to the island’s listed and private companies through a structured channel.’

Avyukthi Consulting and Advisory Services LLP’s Ramesh R., said: ‘Cross-border transactions between India and Sri Lanka involve specific tax, regulatory and structuring considerations. Our role is to help de-risk and accelerate those processes so that good investment ideas can move from discussion to execution more efficiently.’

The initiative comes against a backdrop of recovering Sri Lankan capital markets and growing Indian investor interest in frontier and near-shore opportunities. By linking a listed Sri Lankan investment platform with an established Indian multi-family office and specialist advisory capability, the parties aim to reduce friction in cross-border capital flows, improve information exchange and create a more systematic pipeline of opportunities for institutional, family-office and high-net-worth capital on both sides.

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (C)

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 23/09/2026 UNTIL 1800 24/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1013hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but at times increased cloud will be present.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night

Northwest 3 to 4, gradually near the coast North to Northeast 3

Slight

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually West to Northwest 4

Slight

Afternoon

West to Northwest 4, at times locally 5

Slight, at times locally Slight to Moderate

South Coast

Night

Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually Northwest 3

Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Morning

Southwest 3 to 4, gradually Southwest 4

Smooth to Slight, gradually Slight

Afternoon

Southwest 4 to 5, at times locally 5

Slight, at times locally Slight to Moderate

East Coast

Night

West to Northwest 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Southeast to Southwest 3, later South to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

South to Southwest 4, at times offshore 4 to 5

Slight

North Coast

Night

Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually near the coast Southeast to Southwest 3

Slight

Morning

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, later West to Northwest 4

Smooth to Slight, later Slight

Afternoon

Southwest to Northwest 4, at times locally 4 to 5

Slight, at times locally Slight to Moderate

Ramos falls short of Asiad weightlifting podium

Almost, but not quite.

The Philippines’ Rosegie Ramos missed out on a podium finish in the women’s 53 kilogram weightlifting competition of the Asian Games Wednesday at the Nagoya Trade and Industry Center hall in Japan.

Ramos tallied 93 kilograms in snatch and 110 kilograms in clean and jerk, for a total of 203 kilograms in the competition.

She was actually the top finisher by the end of her clean and jerk attempt, but her turn ended before the podium finishers started their attempts.

North Korea’s Hyon Gyong Kang topped the tournament with a total of 223 kilograms. She tallied 99 kilograms in snatch and 124 kilograms in clean and jerk.

China’s Jinlan Zhao secured the silver medal with 218 total kilograms, off of 94 kilograms in snatch and 124 kilograms in clean and jerk.

Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao finished with the bronze medal with 214 kilograms, off of 95 kilograms snatch and 119 kilograms clean and jerk.

Khambao tried to lift 127 kilograms in her final clean and jerk attempt, but she could not clear.

Ramos, for her part, had clean snatches at 88, 91 and 93 kilograms. She then had good attempts at 105 kilograms and 110 kilograms for clean and jerk.

But as she tried to push for 113 kilograms, she could not raise the bar, ending her afternoon at 203 kilograms.

Ramos finished ahead of Uzbekistan’s Nigora Abdullaeva (201 kilograms), Taipei’s Cheng-jing Lin (198 kilograms), Japan’s Nozomi Abe (196 kilograms), India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav (195 kilograms), Turkmenistan’s Ogulshat Amanova (191 kilograms) and Vietnam’s Hoai Huong Nguyen (177 kilograms).

NMDPRA threatens fuel stations with licence revocation over under-dispensing

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has read the Riot Act to petrol stations involved in under-dispensing of petroleum products, threatening to revoke their licence in line with its regulations.

In a statement by the authority on Tuesday, the regulator said it has observed incidents of under-dispensing of petroleum products at some retail outlets nationwide.

‘The Authority views this as a serious breach of consumer trust that will not be tolerated,’ the statement read.

To safeguard the interest of consumers, NMDPRA directed all retail outlet operators to carry out immediate calibration and verification of all dispensers and totalisers.

According to the statement, this is intended to guarantee accurate measurement and ensure that consumers receive the full value of the product they pay for.

The NMDPRA management said it has intensified inspections and enforcement activities nationwide, warning that outlets found to be under-dispensing, operating with improperly calibrated equipment, or otherwise compromising dispensing accuracy, will be required to take immediate corrective action.

The Authority said persistent or serious violations will be subject to appropriate sanctions, up to and including revocation of the outlet’s licence, in line with NMDPRA’s regulations.

‘Outlets found to be under-dispensing, operating with improperly calibrated equipment, or otherwise compromising dispensing accuracy will be required to take immediate corrective action.

‘Persistent or serious violations will be subject to appropriate sanctions, up to and including revocation of the outlet’s licence, in line with NMDPRA’s regulations,’ the statement read.

All the umbrella bodies of fuel marketers: MEMAN, DAPPMAN, IPMAN and PETROAN were directed to promptly notify their members of the directive and to support full compliance across the industry.

NMDPRA said it remains committed to protecting consumers, promoting transparency. and upholding the integrity of petroleum product transactions nationwide.

DOTr: Fare hike a ‘last resort’ as fuel prices surge

The government wants fare increases to be a “last resort” as it looks for other ways to shield drivers and transport operators from soaring fuel prices without passing the burden on to commuters, the Department of Transportation said.

In a statement read by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Tuesday, September 22, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the government is still exploring other forms of assistance before considering higher fares.

“Pinipiga pa muna natin ang gobyerno kung ano pang pwedeng gawin para makatulong sa mga tsuper at transport operators na hindi ipasa sa mga commuters ang pasanin,” Lopez said.

(“We are exhausting what else the government can do to help drivers and transport operators without passing the burden on to commuters.”)

“Kung pagtaas ng pamasahe ay sana maging last resort natin,” he added. (“If fares have to be increased, we hope that will be our last resort.”)

Transport groups and provincial bus operators have renewed calls for fare increases as pump prices posted their third major hike in September.

This week alone, diesel prices rose by P8.82 per liter, gasoline by P4.88 and kerosene by P6.47.

Several provincial bus operators said in a joint statement Tuesday that fuel now accounts for about 45% to 60% of their total operating costs.

Transport group PISTON, meanwhile, has announced a nationwide transport strike on September 29 and 30 to press the government to act on rising fuel prices. Among its demands are higher fares and the suspension of taxes on petroleum products.

The DOTr said it is focusing on fuel subsidies and other measures aimed at reducing costs for drivers, operators and commuters.

These include toll exemptions for provincial buses and an extension until the end of the year of terminal fee waivers for public utility vehicles using the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

The government also cited the waiver of monthly terminal fees at 86 SM public transport terminals nationwide, 50% discounts on MRT-3 and LRT-2 fares and “Libreng Sakay” programs implemented by various government agencies.

Separately, Castro said the Development Budget Coordination Committee is expected to complete within the week its recommendation on the possible suspension or reduction of excise taxes on fuel products.

“Siguro most probably by this week ay mabibigay na po nila sa pangulo,” Castro said. (“Most probably, they will be able to submit it to the President by this week.”)

Banking reforms need public trust to deliver gains, says CIBN

Nigeria’s banking sector recapitalisation and other economic reforms require stronger public understanding and trust to deliver their intended gains, the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has said.

The Institute said effective communication of reforms was critical to ensuring that Nigerians understood their purpose, implementation and expected outcomes, particularly as the country continues to implement changes across the banking, taxation and financial technology sectors.

Akin Morakinyo, registrar/chief executive of CIBN, stated this in a goodwill message at the annual conference of the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Lagos.

The conference, themed ‘Building on the Gains of Recapitalization, Tax Reforms and the Fintech Revolution,’ brought together financial journalists, banking professionals, regulators and other stakeholders to discuss developments shaping Nigeria’s financial and economic landscape.

Morakinyo said the media had a strategic role to play in ensuring that the gains of the reforms were sustained by providing accurate, timely and responsible reporting that could bridge the information gap between policymakers, financial institutions, businesses and the public.

He said reforms would have limited impact if the public was not adequately informed about their objectives and implications.

‘Whatever you have and you do not use is of no use. When you talk of reforms, the topic of this conference will be worthless without your role,’ he said.

The CIBN chief executive described the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, stressing that its role extended beyond reporting events to influencing public understanding and shaping societal conversations.

‘We refer to the press, the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm, not for saying sake but because of the power the press has. So my admonition on this auspicious occasion is to encourage us to keep that agenda flying,’ Morakinyo stated.

He also referenced the Agenda-Setting Theory of communication, which highlights the ability of the media to determine the issues that receive public attention and influence the direction of societal discourse.

Morakinyo therefore urged financial journalists to deploy their professional influence responsibly in reporting the far-reaching reforms taking place in the banking, taxation and technology sectors.

He said specialised financial reporting was particularly important in helping Nigerians understand the implications of economic policies while also providing policymakers and industry stakeholders with feedback from the public and business community.

‘My appeal to us is that as Nigerians, we have nowhere else to fall back on. No place is like home. As we travel outside this country, after spending two or three weeks, what are you eager to do? To go back home,’ he added.

Morakinyo also congratulated FICAN on its 36th anniversary, describing the milestone as evidence of the association’s resilience, continuity and relevance in Nigeria’s financial journalism landscape.

‘Thirty-six years is no mean feat. A child born in 1990 is already a parent,’ he remarked.

He said CIBN was pleased to identify with FICAN because of the influence wielded by its members and the contribution of financial journalism to national development.

Morakinyo explained that his decision to attend the conference personally demonstrated CIBN’s support for the association, particularly as FICAN transitioned to a new leadership.

He encouraged the incoming leadership and members of the association to build on the achievements of their predecessors while maintaining high standards of professionalism, accuracy and responsible journalism.

The CIBN’s position comes as Nigeria continues to implement reforms aimed at strengthening the banking sector, improving tax administration and accelerating digital financial innovation.

The Institute maintained that sustained collaboration among financial institutions, regulators, policymakers and the media would be important to ensuring that reform initiatives translate into greater economic understanding, confidence and inclusive development.

President calls on Erdogan to give green light for Cyprus negotiations, stressing that division will not be accepted

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides has called on the President of Turkey to give the green light for substantive negotiations within the UN-agreed framework, stressing that division will not be accepted.

Addressing on Wednesday the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, in New York, the President of Cyprus expressed his full commitment to achieving a comprehensive settlement, saying that he is ready to resume negotiations from where they were left off in 2017, building on the substantial work already achieved, within the agreed United Nations framework.

“I listened very carefully to the speech of President Erdogan yesterday: references to international law, to the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, to illegal occupation, to the drama of refugees. Yet, in relation to Cyprus, Turkey is doing exactly the opposite. Hypocrisy of the highest form” he stressed.

President Erdogan, the Cypriot President noted, “also quoted extensively from the UN Charter. But politicians are judged not by their words but by their deeds. And if Mr. Erdogan, wants to quote from the Charter, he must first apply the Charter.”

The UN Security Council, he continued, “has established the framework for the solution of the Cyprus problem. That framework, of a Bizonal Bicommunal Federation with political equality remains the only basis, on which a comprehensive settlement must be reached”.

The President expressed once again his full commitment to achieving a functional and viable solution.

“I am ready to resume negotiations from where they were left off in 2017, building on the substantial work already achieved. The common ground is there: the relevant Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, international law, and the laws, values, and principles of the European Union.”

What is now required, he stressed, is political will by all parties. “A genuine willingness to return to meaningful negotiations. To engage seriously. To build on the body of work already achieved. And to reach a settlement that reunifies our country and our people”.

A settlement, he continued, that allows Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians, and Latins, to live together in peace, security and prosperity.

“On my side, let me repeat it, I am fully committed. Because division will not be accepted. This cannot and will not be the future for my country and my people. Ever. Our determination to reunify our island is firm”, he underlined.

I therefore, he added, “call on my Turkish Cypriot compatriots to perceive our future together as the opportunity for prosperity. And I call on President Erdogan to give the green light for substantive negotiations within the UN-agreed framework.”

In these times of transformation, the President noted, the credibility of the UN must be safeguarded.

“And credibility requires consistency in the application of international law. For my country, Cyprus, this is not an abstract principle. It is a painful, existential reality.”

Fifty-two years have passed, the President said, since the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus. An act of aggression, violating the core principles of the UN Charter.

“An ongoing, flagrant violation of international law, with more than a third of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus remaining under Turkish occupation. For fifty-two years, the tens of thousands of displaced and their descendants are prevented from returning to their homes.”

For fifty-two years, he added, “Varosha remains sealed off, with Turkey still in defiance of its clear and very specific obligations set out in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. For fifty-two years, we are experiencing violations of fundamental human rights; the destruction of religious and cultural heritage; and the organized transfer of settlers amounting to demographic change.”

Pain and immense suffering, he added, are the daily reality of the relatives of the missing persons, that to this day are demanding answers as to the fate of their loved ones.

“And for fifty-two years, the principles at stake have remained the same. Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity are not rhetorical vehicles. Nor are they to be applied selectively, depending on who the perpetrator is.”

These principles, President Christodoulides stressed, do not become less important with the passage of time, nor do the Resolutions of this Organization.

“UN Resolutions cannot be upheld in one case and fully disregarded in another. And the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a state cannot depend on its size, its power or the passage of time. And this is not only a question for Cyprus. It goes to the credibility of the international system itself” he underlined.

Referring to Cyprus’ role, he said that following the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, and the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza, Cyprus, has put forward the Amalthea Maritime Humanitarian Corridor.

“Cyprus could offer something specific: its geographical position, its infrastructure, its excellent relationships with all countries in the region and the will to engage with international partners. Through cooperation, including with the UN2720 Mechanism, that idea became a proposal, and evolved into a functioning humanitarian route. One that keeps delivering as we speak” he pointed out.

Cyprus, he added, has also played a constructive role in times of emergency, noting that in the last three years alone, we helped evacuate thousands of citizens from 70 different countries.

“And through CyprusAid, we have provided humanitarian assistance to countries facing natural disasters” he added.

Moreover, he referred to Cyprus’ Regional Initiative on Climate Change, the aim of which is to bring together countries of our region, thus strengthening our collective capacity for adaptation, mitigation and resilience, as well as to the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station and the Cyprus Center for Land, Open Seas and Port Security, (CYCLOPS) jointly created with the United States. “In its four years of operation, it has provided specialized training to thousands of government officials from more than 50 countries, from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe” he said.

Referring to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU that wrapped up in June, he said that the ability to bring different interests together was also at the heart of the Presidency. “For six months, a country of fewer than one million people, assumed the responsibility of steering the work of a Union of four hundred and fifty million European citizens.”

“Cyprus proved to be an active and responsible party of the international community. A contributor in crisis management, an actor in humanitarian assistance, a proponent of regional synergies and a defender of the protection of human rights and multilateralism” he stressed.

Saying that UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, approaches the completion of a decade leading this Organization, he said that “Cyprus wishes to acknowledge his leadership during a period of extraordinary global developments, his steadfast commitment to multilateralism and his efforts to strengthen and reform the UN.”

“Cyprus believes in a United Nations that protects the principles of its Charter and has the capacity to act upon them. We believe in a Multilateral System in which every state has both rights and responsibilities. And we believe that small-sized states have a particular role to play: Not on the margins of international affairs but as active participants in shaping our common future” the President continued.

For the Republic of Cyprus, he pointed out, that means defending the principles on which we depend, contributing to the institutions in which we believe, building partnerships for the common good, taking initiatives to create useful synergies, and acting responsibly where we can affect change.

“Despite the challenges because of the Turkish occupation, we remain resilient and steadfast in our faith in the multilateral system” he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

Scientists uncovered Mars’ complex water history

New data from NASA’s Perseverance rover have revealed that the Margin Unit, located on the inner rim of Jezero Crater, has experienced a much more complex history of interaction with water than scientists previously thought based on orbital observations.

Researchers initially expected to find sedimentary rocks left behind by an ancient lake. However, Perseverance discovered evidence of at least three different episodes in which water interacted with igneous rocks formed from volcanic activity.

In the upper part of the Margin Unit, about 265 meters above the lowest areas of the region, Perseverance detected coarse-grained rock containing olivine with very few signs of water exposure. Its structure suggests that magma cooled slowly deep beneath the Martian surface before moving upward.

Further down the slope, however, the olivine crystals had been altered. The spaces between them were filled with silica, while carbonates and other silicate minerals were also found in the rocks. On Earth, when olivine comes into contact with water, it can produce hydrogen, which can serve as a potential source of energy for microorganisms. This makes such minerals particularly interesting in the search for possible signs of ancient microbial life on Mars.

Scientists believe that one stage of this process involved groundwater rich in carbon dioxide. The water entered cracks in the olivine-rich rocks and triggered chemical reactions that eventually led to the formation of carbonates.

A second episode may have been connected with the ancient Lake Jezero or with changes in the composition of underground water. During this period, some of the carbonates were redistributed, while silica accumulated in tiny spaces within the minerals.

So far, Perseverance has examined more than 185 bedrock outcrops using its SuperCam instrument. The instrument can fire a laser at rocks, vaporize a tiny amount of material, and analyze the resulting plasma from a distance of up to 0.5 meters. This allows scientists to study the chemical composition of Martian rocks without having to drill into every sample.

The third sign of water activity appears to be connected with hot hydrothermal fluids. In the eastern part of the Margin Unit, researchers discovered mineral veins about 25 centimeters thick containing calcium sulfate and fluorite. On Earth, fluorite can form when hot water circulates through volcanic rocks, suggesting that Mars may once have had hydrothermal systems similar to those found in some volcanic regions on our planet.

The findings show that the Margin Unit preserves evidence of several different water-related processes: groundwater activity, an ancient lake, and a later hydrothermal system. Together, these discoveries provide scientists with a more detailed picture of Mars’s past climate, water cycle, and potential habitability.

One of the most exciting aspects of the discovery is that water did not simply exist on ancient Mars – it appears to have interacted with the rocks in several different ways over long periods of time. This makes the Margin Unit an especially interesting place to search for chemical traces that could reveal whether microscopic life ever existed on the Red Planet.