Science
Articles, research, and analysis on Mars science.
The Geology of Mars: What Rocks Tell Us About a Dead Planet
Mars may be geologically quiet today, but its rocks preserve billions of years of planetary history. Here's what rovers, orbiters, and landers…
Mars Dust Devils: Beautiful, Dangerous, and Everywhere
Mars dust devils are towering vortices that dwarf anything on Earth, reshaping the planet's surface and threatening spacecraft. Here's what we know…
How Long is a Day on Mars? Time, Calendars, and Life on the Red Planet
A Martian day — called a sol — lasts 24 hours, 39 minutes, and 35 seconds. Here's how that small difference reshapes…
The Moons of Mars: Phobos, Deimos, and Their Strange Orbits
Mars has two small, misshapen moons with orbits unlike anything else in the solar system. Here's what we know about Phobos and…
What Would Mars Sound Like? The Science of Sound on Another Planet
Mars has an atmosphere, which means it can carry sound — but not the way Earth does. Here's what science and real…
The Mars Methane Mystery: Life, Geology, or Something Else?
Mars keeps releasing small but puzzling bursts of methane — a gas that shouldn't last long in the Martian atmosphere. Scientists are…
NASA APOD: 3I/ATLAS
Discovered on July 1 with the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, 3I/ATLAS is so…
NASA APOD: Mars: Looking For Viking
On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 lander touched down on the Martian Chryse Planitia. Its exact landing site is somewhere in…
Mars Terraforming: Could We Actually Do It?
Terraforming Mars is a compelling idea with serious scientific proposals behind it — but the energy requirements, timescales, and ethical questions are…
Why Mars Lost Its Water — And What That Means for Life
Mars was once a wet, potentially habitable world. Understanding how it lost its oceans and atmosphere — and what remains today —…
How Mars Dust Would Kill You (And How to Survive It)
Mars dust is far more dangerous than it looks. From toxic perchlorates to lung-shredding particles, here's what the science says about surviving…
How the Sabatier Reaction Could Power Mars Colonization
The Sabatier reaction converts Martian CO2 and hydrogen into methane rocket fuel and water. Here's how this century-old chemistry could make human…
How to Choose a Landing Site on Mars
Picking a landing site on Mars means balancing atmospheric pressure, solar power, terrain safety, and science goals. Here's how NASA weighs these…
Water on Mars: Where It Is and How to Get It
Mars holds substantial water ice at its poles, beneath its surface, and even in its thin atmosphere. Here's what we know and…
How Mars Dust Would Kill You (And How to Survive It)
Mars dust isn't just an inconvenience — it's a genuine health threat packed with perchlorates, ultrafine particles, and electrostatic charge. Here's what…
The Science of Terraforming Mars
Transforming Mars into a habitable world is no longer pure science fiction. We break down the real proposed methods, honest timelines, and…
How MOXIE Changed Everything: Making Oxygen on Mars
NASA's MOXIE experiment aboard Perseverance made history in 2021 by producing oxygen directly from the Martian atmosphere. Here's what it means for…
Radiation on Mars: The Real Challenge
Cosmic radiation is arguably the most serious medical challenge facing human Mars missions. Here's what the science actually says — and what…
NASA APOD: Dark Sand Cascades on Mars
Are these trees growing on Mars? No. Groups of dark brown streaks have been photographed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on melting…
NASA APOD: Mars Polar Lander Target Ellipse
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