Early Mars Had Climate Warm Enough to Support Rain

The distribution of valley heads on Mars matches predictions for a climate that includes precipitation rather than just runoff from melting ice caps.

Scientists have discovered a 3 billion-year-old beach buried on Mars

Data from Chinese Zhurong rover provide an unprecedented look into rocks buried near a proposed shoreline billions of years old. The researchers claim to have found beach deposits from an ancient Martian ocean.

Lakes on Mars had ripples! They must have been ice-free

We know that lakes existed on Mars’ surface billions of years ago. But scientists have debated whether the lakes were open to the air or covered by a layer of ice. 

New evidence exists for hidden water reservoirs and rare magmas on ancient Mars

The research suggests that the thick crust of Mars' southern highlands formed billions of years ago generated granitic magmas and sustained vast underground aquifers.

A 4.45 billion-year-old crystal from Mars reveals the planet had water from the beginning

The history of water on early Mars is not certain. Determining when water first appeared, where and for how long, are all burning questions that drive Mars exploration. 

This Meteorite Just Revealed an Ancient Signal of Water on Mars

According to a new analysis of the Lafayette Meteorite, minerals within it formed in the presence of water 742 million years ago. It's a real breakthrough in the dating of aqueous minerals on Mars.

China's Zhurong Mars rover finds evidence of a vast Martian ocean

A Chinese rover has brought forth evidence that hints at the likelihood of a massive ocean, covering almost a third of the Red Planet, that existed billions of years ago.

Mid-Crust of Mars May Contain "Oceans of Liquid Water"

New data about the Martian crust gathered by NASA's InSight lander allowed geophysicists to estimate that the amount of groundwater could cover the entire planet to a depth of between 1 and 2 km.

Ephemeral morning frost discovered atop Mars' tallest volcanoes

Morning images show frost briefly coating at least four colossal volcanoes: Olympus Mons, Arsia Mons, Ascraeus Mons, and Ceraunius Tholus.

Confirmation of ancient lake on Mars builds excitement for Perseverance rover's samples

If life ever existed on Mars, the Perseverance rover’s verification of lake sediments at the base of the Jezero crater reinforces the hope that traces might be found in the crater. 

Mars Express finds evidence of large water deposits

ESA's Mars Express has revisited one of Mars's most mysterious features to clarify its composition. Its findings suggest layers of water ice stretching several kilometers below ground—the most water ever found in this part of the planet.

Early Mars Had a Sustained, Cyclic, Possibly Seasonal, Climate

New observations of mud cracks made by NASA's Curiosity rover show that high-frequency, wet-dry cycling occurred in early Martian surface environments.

Mars' Olympus Mons volcano could have been an island

French researchers suggesting that the tallest volcano in Solar System, Olympus Mons on Mars was once a volcanic island, surrounded by a deep sea.

Curiosity rover discovers water-rich fracture halos on Mars

A recent study finds that the vast subsurface fracture networks in Gale crater would have provided water-rich and radiation-shielded conditions that were potentially more habitable than those on the surface.

A mega-tsunami on ancient Mars

A new research is lending support to the possibility that an asteroid slammed into Martian ancient ocean 3.5 billion years ago, creating a mega-tsunami 309 meters high.