characterized by large crystals of plagioclase feldspar. This texture suggests the rock cooled slowly deep beneath the Martian surface rather than erupting violently as surface lava. Carl Agee, curator at the University of New Mexico’s Institute of...

contexts, biological processes. While the team stresses that this is not evidence of life, it confirms that the early Martian surface supported hydrothermal systems fueled by volcanic activity. The ancient Martian rock known as Teghaza 001. Credit:...

where water existed on early Mars is essential for assessing habitability. Liquid water is not stable on the Martian surface today. However, geological and mineral evidence indicates that early Mars experienced prolonged interactions between rock and...

Perseverance detected tiny electrical bursts in Martian dust storms, revealing new atmospheric processes and reshaping how scientists view Mars. For decades, scientists suspected that the dry and dusty environment of Mars could produce electrical...

rocks (orange circles, orbital detections by Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) only) on the martian surface, overlaid on the MOLA shaded relief/colorized elevation map. Jezero Crater, which has both types of carbonate...

Scientists discover unexpected feature inside a Martian meteorite, shedding light on the planet’s formation processes. A fragment rich in the mineral andradite garnet has been identified inside a Martian meteorite recovered from the Sahara Desert in...

Is Mars hiding a secret? A new mission is heading to the Red Planet’s mysterious moons to uncover origins that could challenge everything we know. A Japanese-led mission is currently en route to the Red Planet, marking the beginning of an ambitious...

Japan’s MMX mission is officially underway, embarking on a historic journey to Mars to collect and return the first-ever soil samples from its moon Phobos. The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft has officially begun its long-distance trek...

left five fresh craters on Mars, providing scientists with a unique and unexpected way to measure the strength of the Martian surface. When the Perseverance rover arrived at Mars in 2021, it left behind more than just a trail of exploration. The...

New research reveals Mars’ north pole ice contains far less dust than expected, reshaping our understanding of the planet’s climate and habitable history. The water ice capping Mars’ north pole is significantly purer than planetary scientists...

similar to common table salt—the team modeled how these crystals respond to the intense thermal cycle of the Martian surface, where temperatures can swing by as much as 150 degrees Celsius within a single day. This rapid thermal expansion and...

A Japanese spacecraft will explore Mars’ mysterious moons and attempt a historic sample return mission in collaboration with NASA. An ambitious international space endeavor is gearing up for a historic voyage to the Martian moons, with NASA playing a...

pre‑existing flaws, and local environmental parameters. Distribution of hydrated mineral detections across the martian surface shown as red markers. Credit: Science Direct Even when a crack appears sealed, some vapor exchange can continue, meaning the...

while the other posits that they are the result of debris ejected into orbit following a massive impact event on the Martian surface. The distinction carries profound implications for our understanding of planetary evolution. If the moons are captured...

than it is today. Ancient river channels, lake beds, and sedimentary rocks suggest that liquid water flowed across the Martian surface for extended periods. These environments are precisely the kinds of places where microbial life might have emerged or...

Elijah Collins/Pioneer Labs The Harsh Reality of the Martian Frontier Translating biological success on Earth to the Martian surface presents monumental physical challenges. Mars is defined by extreme radiation, an atmosphere that is merely one percent...

NASA is planning a groundbreaking mission to explore what may be hiding beneath the Martian surface, using technology unlike anything ever sent to Mars. NASA is poised to escalate its aerial exploration of Mars with the upcoming SkyFall mission, a...

Japan’s MMX mission is headed to Mars to explore its moons and retrieve the first-ever soil samples from Phobos, targeting a return to Earth by 2031. Japan has embarked on an ambitious interplanetary mission, sending the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX)...

NASA’s Perseverance rover has captured a rare solar eclipse as Phobos transits the Sun, turning the Martian event into vital new scientific data. NASA’s Perseverance rover has successfully documented a rare solar transit, capturing the Martian moon...

a passing asteroid captured by Mars’ gravity, or it formed from a debris disc created by a massive collision on the Martian surface. Identifying its internal structure is key to resolving this dilemma, as each scenario suggests a different composition....