Scientists have used rare Martian meteorite samples to reveal that a collision on Mars caused water to flow near the planet's surface. The research found veins created during an impact, which suggests that buried ice melted and deposited minerals such as clay and serpentine.
A team of scientists found that the abundance of metal-loving elements in Earth's, Moon's, and Mars' mantles were delivered by massive impactors during the final phase of planet formation. The largest impactor on Earth may have modified its obliquity by approximately 10 degrees.
A team of researchers at Brown University discovered a mineral deposit on Mars that speaks of a warm and wet past, potentially preserving evidence of microbial life. The deposit, located in the Syrtis Major volcanic zone, is believed to have formed in a hydrothermal environment.
A UT Dallas professor designed a mass spectrometer that analyzed soil samples from Mars, revealing the ratio of carbon dioxide isotopes and their reaction to volcanic activity. This provides a more complete understanding of the current Martian atmosphere and climate history.
The Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument suite is nearly ready for a December delivery to the Curiosity rover on NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Once deployed, SAM will become an automated laboratory, assessing whether Mars ever supported microbial life.
The MAVEN mission aims to investigate how Mars lost its atmosphere and gain insight into the Red Planet's history. The spacecraft will make definitive scientific measurements of present-day atmospheric loss, addressing fundamental science questions.
The sun uses its solar wind and ultraviolet radiation to strip Mars' atmosphere, making it cold and dry. MAVEN will examine the ways the sun loses the Martian atmosphere and measure hydrogen isotope ratios to discover how much water has been lost to space.
Measurements by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander suggest that liquid water has primarily existed at temperatures near freezing on Mars, implying hydrothermal systems similar to Earth's hot springs are rare. The findings provide new light on Mars' history of water and volcanic activity.
Researchers at UC San Diego and NEI Corporation are designing new types of lithium-ion batteries with exceptional energy density, potentially used in NASA space exploration projects and consumer applications. The goal is to create commercially useable cathode materials with high capacity and structural stability.
Research published in the Journal of Physiology found that astronaut muscles deteriorate to that of an 80-year-old after just 180 days in space. The study highlights the need for effective exercise countermeasures to protect muscle and bone on long-duration space missions.
The Caltech-Canadian Space Agency partnership aims to detect signs of microbial life and geological activity on Mars. The MATMOS instrument will analyze gases in the Martian atmosphere with high sensitivity.
New research on Martian rocks suggests they may hold evidence of living organisms from 4 billion years ago. The findings provide a promising lead for future exobiology missions and shed light on the potential for life on early Mars.
New research suggests that liquid water existed all over Mars during its early history, with studies of minerals found in craters revealing a global alteration by water. The discovery provides clues about the planet's potential habitability and suggests sites for future landers.
A team from Brown University has discovered extensive glaciofluvial valleys on Mars, which were formed by running water originating from glaciers. The findings, published in Icarus, indicate that water existed on the planet as recently as several hundred million years ago.
A new CU-Boulder study provides further support for the idea of a sustained sea on Mars during the Noachian era, suggesting an ancient ocean likely covered about 36% of the planet. The research implies an Earth-like global hydrological cycle, including precipitation, runoff, cloud formation, and ice and groundwater accumulation.
A new theory suggests that iron oxides in Martian soil decompose organic molecules through photocatalysis, converting them to carbon dioxide and methane. This process may explain the absence of organic compounds on the planet's surface, requiring deeper drilling to find preserved organics.
A team of researchers has discovered methane-eating bacteria that can thrive in extremely salty and cold environments, similar to those found on Mars. The microbes, which survive by eating methane and breathing sulfate instead of oxygen, have implications for the possibility of life existing on the Red Planet.
A six-man international crew will undergo a simulated 520-day Mars mission to assess the impact of prolonged isolation on mental health. The study aims to better understand how sleep loss, fatigue, and stress affect performance in long-duration space missions.
Scientists have discovered an outcrop of carbonate-rich rock, dubbed Comanche, in the Columbia Hills of Gusev Crater on Mars. The discovery was made possible by a calibration technique developed to correct for dust effects on the instrument, revealing a couple of large outcrops of rock with high carbonate content.
The University of Leicester is involved in the ExoMars mission, which aims to characterise the chemical, geological and possible biological environment on Mars. The mission will attempt to gather samples from a depth 1-2m below the surface where they are protected from radiation.
A new computer model developed by NC State University researchers allows engineers to test different vehicle designs for a Mars rover. The model takes into account various conditions such as wind and terrain, enabling informed decisions about the final design characteristics.
Researchers use radar and camera data to reconstruct the formation of two enigmatic features in Mars' northern ice cap: a massive canyon and spiral troughs. Wind erosion is found to be the primary force shaping these complex structures, revealing a detailed climate history.
Researchers have reconstructed the formation of two curious features in Mars' northern ice cap, including Chasma Boreale and spiral troughs, revealing that wind shapes polar ice caps over millions of years. The study provides new evidence of climate change on Mars and vindicates an early explanation for the spiral troughs.
Researchers evaluated MARS treatment's cost-utility and health-related quality of life in 90 ALF patients. The study found improved HRQoL and reduced healthcare costs after MARS treatment, indicating a potential cost-effective option for ALF patients.
Recent studies found that diverse microbial communities persist on spacecraft despite sterilization efforts. Escherichia coli was discovered to survive on Martian surfaces under shielded conditions or with thin dust layers.
A research team led by the University of Georgia has discovered a previously unreported chemical mechanism for nitrous oxide production in Antarctic Don Juan Pond. The discovery could help space scientists understand the Martian nitrogen cycle and develop sensors to detect brines on Mars.
A new study reveals that a Martian meteorite, ALH84001, is approximately 4.091 billion years old, significantly younger than previously estimated ages. This finding suggests that volcanic activity was ongoing in Mars for much of its history and has implications for understanding the planet's evolution.
Research on Martian impact craters reveals a complex geologic history involving liquid water, ice, volcanism, tectonism, and aeolian processes. Additionally, studies of floods from Pleistocene Glacial Lake Missoula and volcanic activity in Guatemala provide insights into Earth's crust formation and plate tectonic processes.
A new monitoring system developed by RIT professor Roger Dube will predict space storms on Mars and provide early warnings for the critical infrastructure on Earth. The system uses artificial intelligence to recognize signs of a dangerous flux of particles, enabling at least three days' advanced warning for people living on both planets.
Space physicists from the University of Leicester have identified a significant contributor to Mars' atmospheric escape: pressure from solar wind pulses. The team found that these pulses can drive away particles from Mars' atmosphere, causing a loss of about one third of the material lost into space.
Researchers find evidence that a Martian channel was formed by lava flows, contradicting previous theories that suggested water carving. The discovery has implications for the geological evolution of Mars and our understanding of its potential for life.
A NASA scientist has added an experiment to the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument, enhancing its ability to analyze large carbon molecules. The experiment aims to preserve information on how organic molecules formed, shedding light on the planet's carbon cycle.
Researchers from Imperial College London and UCL found evidence of ancient lakes on Mars using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter images. The study suggests that Mars had warm and wet periods approximately 3 billion years ago, potentially creating habitats suitable for microbial life.
Scientists have ruled out meteorites as a source of methane on Mars, raising hopes that the gas might be generated by life on the red planet. Methane levels are replenished by an unknown source, with two plausible theories remaining: microorganisms producing methane as a by-product or reactions between volcanic rock and water.
A new company, Cogniciti, is being formed by Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care and MaRS to develop brain fitness products. The company will produce games, training protocols, and corporate training programs grounded in 20 years of aging brain research.
A new study reveals a more extensive valley network on Mars, indicating the presence of an ancient ocean. The findings suggest that rainfall and precipitation played a major role in shaping the Martian landscape.
Researchers propose a solution to the crucial problem of ensuring reliable radio communication between Mars and Earth during solar alignments. A pair of communication relay satellites in B-orbits equipped with electric ion propulsion can 'hover' over points leading and trailing Mars' orbit, providing full-time communications.
Researchers using NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have detected sub-surface water ice at high latitudes of Mars, with some areas showing ice purity of up to 99%. The ice is believed to be a relic of a more humid climate on Mars in the recent past and could provide insights into the planet's history.
Recent methane discoveries on Mars suggest either biological or geological activity, with scientists investigating its disappearance after initial detection in 2003. The source of the methane remains unknown, but theories include surface trapping and chemical reactions.
Researchers confirm that Mars' surface minerals influence its soil temperature measurements using infrared spectroscopy, with significant increases and falls in reflectance values. This study has implications for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, allowing for more accurate interpretation of data from the soil temperature sensor.
Researchers studied effects of lighting interventions, stress and fatigue monitoring on crew performance. The 105-Day Mars Mission aimed to improve work performance in a realistic setting.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Nicholas Lang is studying three ancient Martian volcanoes to better understand the planet's history and potential water sources. The study may have implications for the search for life on Mars, as liquid water could have existed in the past.
The study found that molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS) treatment is effective in patients with acute liver failure. The etiology of liver failure and the grade of encephalopathy before MARS treatment were significant prognostic factors, while coagulation factor 5 levels were also predictive for unknown etiologies.
Researchers found water ice on Mars with temperatures similar to those on Earth, suggesting past liquid water and potential life. The Phoenix mission revealed subsurface ice and weather patterns comparable to those on our planet.
The Phoenix Mars Mission provided new details about Mars' water history, including patterns in the ground near the landing site and surprising findings of perchlorate. Researchers discovered ice at varying depths and observed daily weather changes, revealing clues to Martian soil chemistry.
A new instrument, MTDEM, uses induction to generate electrical currents in the ground, detecting subsurface water on Mars. The system has potential to find habitable zones for microbes and unlock secrets of Mars' ancient surface.
A University of Colorado at Boulder research team has discovered the first definitive evidence of shorelines on Mars, indicating an ancient lake that was up to 1,500 feet deep. The lake appears to have formed around 3.4 billion years ago and provides a prime target for future landing missions searching for signs of past life.
Researchers at Oklahoma State University will develop a miniature optical dating instrument (ODIN) for dating the surface of Mars. The ODIN utilizes optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), a geological dating technique, and aims to further our understanding of Martian climate and atmosphere conditions.
Scientists at the University of Leeds and NASA have developed a new cleaning protocol to ensure that Earth-based microorganisms don't contaminate Mars samples. The protocol was tested on various sampling devices, including rover scoops and glacial ice core drills, and found to effectively remove detectable organic biosignatures.
A study suggests that large meteorite bombardments approximately four billion years ago could have helped to make the early Earth and Mars more habitable for life by releasing water and carbon dioxide into their atmospheres. This process may have created a warmer and wetter environment that was conducive to the emergence of life.
The rover Opportunity has revealed new insights into Mars' geologic history, including the presence of hematite spheres, sulfate-rich sandstone, and minerals commonly found in meteorites. The data supports previous findings that water once flowed on Mars' surface, with a likely underground source.
The American Geographical Society (AGS) awarded national medals to polar explorers, including Matthew Henson, who accompanied Robert Peary on the 1909 expedition to the North Pole. Peter Smith, principal investigator of NASA's Phoenix Mars Mission, received an award for his work exploring Mars. Researchers also recognized for saving th...
A team of scientists exposed a bacterium to Martian conditions, finding it couldn't survive the UV levels. Another study showed bacteria could survive with protection from the surface dust layer. These findings provide baseline studies for planetary exploration.
A new collection of papers explores how solar energy, winds, asteroid impacts, and changing magnetic fields shaped early Mars' environment. These findings suggest that the planet may have supported life during its history.
The University of Washington's DEIMOS acoustic package has joined the Monterey Accelerated Research System (MARS) ocean observatory to monitor movements of fish and zooplankton in Monterey Bay. The system uses an echo sounder to reveal what's in a narrow cone of water above the instrument, providing insights into ocean life dynamics.
Dr. Robert D. Ballard returned to the Office of Naval Research to discuss the future of deep-sea exploration and its applications for the fleet. He highlighted ONR's investments in cutting-edge technologies, such as Remotely Operated Vehicles, Unmanned Undersea Vehicles, and autonomy.
A recent study by Brown University researchers has found a gully fan system on Mars that formed about 1.25 million years ago, indicating melt water from nearby snow and ice deposits. The discovery extends the time water may have been active on Mars, adding to evidence of a recent ice age.
Scientists propose that structures in Vernal Crater depict areas of ancient spring activity, creating ideal locations to search for life evidence. Hot springs are crucial target areas for future Mars missions due to their ability to preserve fossilized microbial communities.
A team of NASA and university scientists has detected methane in the Martian atmosphere, indicating the planet may be biologically active. The discovery was made using spectrometers at the Infrared Telescope Facility and W.M. Keck telescope, revealing three spectral features that are a definitive signature of methane.
Researchers discovered that Martian winds create pits and hills, causing small rocks to roll forward into the wind. The process is repeated, forming regular patterns, with clusters of rocks adapting by shielding the middle or outer rocks from the wind.