Mars News Headlines

  • Surprising insights about debris flows on Mars
    on March 14, 2024 at 4:21 pm

    The period that liquid water was present on the surface of Mars may have been shorter than previously thought. Channel landforms called gullies, previously thought to be formed exclusively by liquid water, can also be formed by the action of evaporating CO2 ice, according to a new study.

  • Giant volcano discovered on Mars
    on March 13, 2024 at 5:56 pm

    A deeply eroded giant volcano, active from ancient through recent times and with possible remnants of glacier ice near its base, had been hiding near Mars' equator in plain sight. Its discovery points to an exciting new place to search for life, and a potential destination for future robotic and human exploration.

  • Scientists propose new theory that explains sand ripples on Mars and on Earth
    on March 12, 2024 at 5:38 pm

    Sand ripples are symmetrical. Yet wind -- which causes them -- is very much not. Furthermore, sand ripples can be found on Mars and on Earth. They would be even more fascinating if the same effect found on Mars could be found here on Earth as well. What if one unified theory could explain their formation on both planets?

  • Study determines the original orientations of rocks drilled on Mars
    on March 4, 2024 at 6:57 pm

    Geologists determined the original orientation of many of the Mars bedrock samples collected by the Perseverance rover. The findings can give scientists clues to the conditions in which the rocks originally formed.

  • Biomolecules from formaldehyde on ancient Mars
    on February 28, 2024 at 4:53 pm

    Organic materials discovered on Mars may have originated from atmospheric formaldehyde, according to new research, marking a step forward in our understanding of the possibility of past life on the Red Planet.

  • Three years later, search for life on Mars continues
    on February 22, 2024 at 5:23 pm

    Scientists suspect Mars once had long-lived rivers, lakes and streams. Today, water on Mars is found in ice at the poles and trapped below the Martian surface. Researchers now reveal that Mars also may have had hydrothermal systems based on the hydrated magnesium sulfate the rover identified in the volcanic rocks.

  • Little groundwater recharge in ancient Mars aquifer, according to new models
    on February 22, 2024 at 2:38 am

    Mars was once a wet world. The geological record of the Red Planet shows evidence for water flowing on the surface -- from river deltas to valleys carved by massive flash floods. But a new study shows that no matter how much rainfall fell on the surface of ancient Mars, very little of it seeped into an aquifer in the planet's southern highlands.

  • Diverse ancient volcanoes on Mars discovered by planetary scientist may hold clues to pre-plate tectonic activity on Earth
    on February 15, 2024 at 4:36 pm

    A geologist has revealed intriguing insights into the volcanic activity on Mars. He proposes that Mars has significantly more diverse volcanism than previously realized, driven by an early form of crust recycling called vertical tectonics. The findings shed light on the ancient crust of Mars and its potential implications for understanding early crustal recycling on both Mars and Earth.

  • Confirmation of ancient lake on Mars builds excitement for Perseverance rover's samples
    on January 26, 2024 at 10:16 pm

    Ground-penetrating radar on board NASA's Mars Perseverance rover has confirmed that the Jezero Crater, formed by an ancient meteor impact just north of the Martian equator, once harbored a vast lake and river delta. Over eons, sediment deposition and erosion within the crater shaped the geologic formations visible on the surface today. The discovery of lake sediments reinforces the hope that traces of life might be found in soil and rock samples collected by Perseverance.

  • Atmospheric pressure changes could be driving Mars' elusive methane pulses
    on January 24, 2024 at 6:27 pm

    New research shows that atmospheric pressure fluctuations that pull gases up from underground could be responsible for releasing subsurface methane into Mars' atmosphere; knowing when and where to look for methane can help the Curiosity rover search for signs of life.

  • Potential solvents identified for building on moon and Mars
    on January 11, 2024 at 4:31 pm

    Researchers have taken the first steps toward finding liquid solvents that may someday help extract critical building materials from lunar and Martian-rock dust, an important piece in making long-term space travel possible. Using machine learning and computational modeling, researchers have found about half a dozen good candidates for solvents that can extract materials on the moon and Mars usable in 3D printing. The powerful solvents, called ionic liquids, are salts that are in a liquid state.

  • One small material, one giant leap for life on Mars: New research takes us a step closer to sustaining human life on the red planet
    on December 21, 2023 at 6:27 am

    Researchers have discovered the transformative potential of Martian nanomaterials, potentially opening the door to sustainable habitation on the red planet.

  • Glow in the visible range detected for the first time in the Martian night
    on November 9, 2023 at 5:15 pm

    Scientists have observed, for the first time in the visible range, a glow on the night side of the planet Mars. These new observations provide a better understanding of the dynamics of the upper atmosphere of the Red Planet and its variations throughout the year.

  • Scientists discover molten layer covering Martian core
    on October 25, 2023 at 8:29 pm

    NASA's InSight mission to Mars helped scientists map out Mars' internal structure, including the size and composition of its core, and provided general hints about its tumultuous formation. But findings from a new paper could lead to reanalysis of that data. An international team of researchers discovered the presence of a molten silicate layer overlying Mars' metallic core -- providing new insights into how Mars formed, evolved and became the barren planet it is today.  

  • Curiosity rover finds new evidence of ancient Mars rivers, a key signal for life
    on October 24, 2023 at 3:05 pm

    New analysis of data from the Curiosity rover reveals that much of the craters on Mars today could have once been habitable rivers.

  • Source of largest ever Mars quake revealed
    on October 17, 2023 at 4:34 pm

    Scientists have announced the results of an unprecedented collaboration to search for the source of the largest ever seismic event recorded on Mars. The study rules out a meteorite impact, suggesting instead that the quake was the result of enormous tectonic forces within Mars' crust.

  • New Mars gravity analysis improves understanding of possible ancient ocean
    on September 20, 2023 at 7:23 pm

    The first use of a novel method of analyzing Mars' gravitational force supports the idea that the planet once had an extensive northern ocean. In doing so, the method defines the scope of what scientists refer to as the northern Martian paleo-ocean in more detail.

  • Possible seasonal climate patterns on early Mars
    on August 9, 2023 at 8:47 pm

    New observations of mud cracks made by the Curiosity Rover show that high-frequency, wet-dry cycling occurred in early Martian surface environments, indicating that the red planet may have once seen seasonal weather patterns or even flash floods.

  • Study examines Earth and Mars to determine how climate change affects the paths of rivers
    on August 4, 2023 at 1:38 am

    The study investigated why the paths of meandering rivers change over time and is a step toward understanding what the hydroclimate on Mars was like when there was still surface water.

  • In new space race, scientists propose geoarchaeology can aid in preserving space heritage
    on July 21, 2023 at 3:32 pm

    The material record that currently exists on the moon is rapidly becoming at risk of being destroyed if proper attention isn't paid during the new space era, scientists say. They propose a new scientific subfield: planetary geoarchaeology, the study of how cultural and natural processes on Earth's moon, on Mars and across the solar system may be altering, preserving or destroying the material record of space exploration.

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