Mars news, features and articles

a photo of a rover on the surface of Mars
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover takes a selfie on the Red Planet. (Image credit: Anadolu via Getty Images)

With SpaceX, NASA and China planning manned missions to the Martian surface and scientists working to revolutionize access to the Red Planet, it's now only a matter of time before humans step foot on Mars. Follow our species' progress to a new world with Live Science's specialist Mars coverage. Our expert writers and editors publish lists, fact pages, explainers and coverage of the biggest Martian research, from evidence of recent water on the Red Planet to how the "building blocks of life" were discovered on Mars to the first clear images of "sun rays" from Mars' surface, in the latest Mars news, features articles

Discover more about Mars

—Mars: Facts about the Red Planet, its moons, and possibilities for life

—Is there water on Mars?

—Does Mars have a moon?

Latest about Mars

A photo of a large meteorite on a pedestal with an orange background

Largest known Martian meteorite on Earth sells for $5.3 million at auction

By Harry Baker published

The largest known Martian meteorite, NWA 16788, has been sold at auction for $5.3 million. The hefty chunk of the Red Planet, which weighs 54 pounds, could help unravel new secrets about Mars — if it's allowed to be studied.

Mars

Could signs of Mars life be hidden in its thick layers of clay?

By Victoria Corless Partner Content Created With Space. published

The thick, mineral-rich layers of clay found on Mars suggest that the Red Planet harbored potentially life-hosting environments for long stretches in the ancient past, a new study suggests.

Mystery of Mars' missing water could be solved by the planet's tipsy tilt

By Deepa Jain published

Mars has lost immense amounts of water over it lifetime, and scientists aren't sure exactly how. New research hints that the planet's violently varying tilt may be a key factor.

Mars

Does Mars have a moon?

By Marilyn Perkins published

Mars is smaller than Earth, but does it have any moons?

Mars

Why does Mars look purple, yellow and orange in ESA's stunning new satellite image?

By Perri Thaler published

Surprising colors and stunning features are captured in a new image of Mars' surface.

Mars
Photo of Mars surface taken by the Curiosity rover

Mars rover captures first close-up photos of giant 'spiderwebs' on the Red Planet

By Harry Baker published

NASA's Curiosity rover has snapped its first images of web-like "boxwork" features on the surface of Mars. The zig-zagging rocks could provide clues about the Red Planet's watery past and whether it once harbored extraterrestrial life.

Mars

Is Mars really red? A physicist explains the truth.

By David Joffe published

Mars isn't a bright, fire-engine red, but the iron oxide in its rocks makes it appear redder than other planets, especially from afar.

Mars
a purple-hued volcano pokes through a thick layer of clouds

NASA spots Martian volcano twice the height of Mount Everest bursting through the morning clouds: Space photo of the week

By Shreejaya Karantha published

A new panorama from NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter shows Arsia Mons, one of the largest volcanoes on Mars, rising above a thick blanket of clouds before dawn.

Mars

Why does NASA's Perseverance rover keep taking pictures of this maze on Mars?

By Stefanie Waldek Partner Content Created With Space. published

NASA's Perseverance rover regularly images a Sherlock Holmes–themed maze to calibrate its chemical-hunting SHERLOC instrument.

Turning the Red Planet green? It's time to take terraforming Mars seriously, scientists say

By Stefanie Waldek Partner Content Created With Space. published

A new study debates the complex ethical questions that must be considered if we're to terraform Mars and lays the blueprint for a potential path forward.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives