?? Have We Been Wrong About Why Mars Is Red? ??

New research suggests that Mars rusted much earlier than we thought—back when liquid water still flowed across its surface. Scientists, combining ESA and NASA spacecraft data with lab experiments, have discovered that Mars’s red dust is rich in ferrihydrite, an iron oxide that forms in cool, watery conditions. This challenges the long-held belief that the planet’s red hue came from dry atmospheric reactions over billions of years.

?? By replicating Martian dust in the lab, researchers found that ferrihydrite, not hematite, best matches what orbiting spacecraft detect. This means that Mars’s rusting process happened during its wetter past, reshaping our understanding of its ancient climate and potential habitability.

?? Future missions, like ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover and Mars Sample Return, will provide even more clues about the history of water—and possibly life—on the Red Planet.

?? What do you think this means for our search for life on Mars?

#Mars #SpaceExploration #ESA #NASA #RedPlanet #Astrobiology

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