Articles tagged with Mars
New life-detection tools up to 1,000 times more sensitive than previous instruments are being used to search for evidence of life on Mars. Researchers are also searching the planet's atmosphere for signs of methane, which could indicate biological activity.
The first manned mission to Mars poses significant challenges in provisioning astronauts with food, including weight, nutrition, and psychological factors. Bioregenerative systems that involve growing crops could supply food, oxygen, and purify air, while shipping bulk commodities is another option.
A new nuclear power plant design could provide a compact and reliable source of electricity for manned or unmanned bases on the Moon and Mars. The system is designed to operate in various locations such as craters, canyons, or caves, and can generate large amounts of power, approximately the same as powering eight houses on Earth.
Seasonal dark features on Martian slopes suggest the presence of salty water, which could indicate a habitable environment. The recurring flows may be formed by fluid seeping down slopes and have characteristics that fit better with briny water explanations.
A study by Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition found that cats fed a hydrated diet had a slower rate of weight gain and were more physically active. This breakthrough has important implications for developing feeding strategies to modulate weight gain in cats.
Researchers propose a new theory on Mars' small size and low mass, suggesting that Jupiter's early gas-driven migration stripped the region of formation materials. The 'Grand Tack Scenario' simulation explains properties of the asteroid belt and its compositional differences between inner- and outer-belt bodies.
A new study published in Nature suggests Mars developed rapidly into a small planet due to its rapid formation. Scientists used the radioactive decay of hafnium to tungsten in meteorites as a chronometer and found that Mars likely didn't collide with other embryos to form an Earth-like planet.
A new study published in Nature reveals that Mars developed in just two to four million years after the solar system's formation, significantly faster than Earth. This rapid formation helps explain why Mars is so small compared to our planet.
Scientists at Indiana University will study methane production in Arctic environments to help NASA detect carbon-based life on Mars and other celestial bodies. The three-year project aims to understand the conditions that support life on Earth and how they compare to those found elsewhere in the solar system.
Researchers from Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona have discovered formations in Catalonia resembling Mars' giant spring mounds. The study, published in Geodinamica Acta, suggests possible similarities in origin, shedding new light on the search for water on Mars.
Scientists suggest that bombardments of micro-meteorites on Earth and Mars four billion years ago led to catastrophic cooling effects, making it hard for early life to thrive. The influx of sulphur dioxide into the atmospheres of both planets could have plunged them into an Arctic winter, lasting millions of years.
A new analytical technique makes it easier to analyze rocks and soils on Mars, possibly indicating signs of life. The tool combines mass spectrometry with laser ablation and an ion funnel, allowing for in-situ analysis without sample handling.
Scientists have found that the sand dunes in a vast area of northern Mars are changing with both sudden and gradual motions, contrary to previous assumptions. The changes were caused by seasonal carbon-dioxide ice and stronger-than-expected gusts of wind, resulting in sand avalanches and erosion.
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 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 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.
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.
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 developed self-dusting solar panels using technology from Mars space missions, reducing dust impact on solar energy output. The new coating can remove up to 90% of deposited dust within two minutes, minimizing maintenance costs and increasing efficiency.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Scientists find that Arctic sea ice loss is driven by the formation of arches, which block flow and lead to increased ice loss. In Mars, solar wind pulses contribute to atmospheric escape, with bursts occurring in association with corotating interaction regions.
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 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.
A new laser technique called L.I.F.E. imaging successfully detected bacteria in frozen Antarctic lakes, potentially paving the way for discovering signs of life on Mars.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
A new study by Imperial College London aims to use a technology initially developed for the ExoMars mission to process unconventional energy resources. The technique involves using surfactants to liberate organic matter from rock, potentially unlocking an enormous impact on the UK and global economy.
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.
Scientists have discovered magnetic tornadoes on Mercury that could be replenishing its extremely thin atmosphere. These 'tornadoes' form when magnetic fields carried by the solar wind connect to Mercury's magnetic field, twisting into vortex-like structures.