Mars

Salty puddles on Mars may be more common than previously thought

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How important is the presence of liquid water? It is now widely believed that Mars holds a reasonably large volume of water. However, the surface of the planet is so cold, this water exists only as ice. In order for life to exist on a planet, many scientists believe it is essential for the world … Read more

Expert calls for protocols to keep alien viruses from infecting Earth after humans visit Mars

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It may sound like a plot from a science fiction film, but NASA and scientists are concerned about alien viruses contaminating Earth.  As the first humans prepare for the Mars mission, experts warn that protocols are necessary to keep extraterrestrial pollutants from hitchhiking on space ships and astronauts when returning home from the Red Planet. Stanford … Read more

Extinct ‘extra-terrestrial equivalent of the Rhine’ spotted on Mars

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‘Extra-terrestrial equivalent of the Rhine’: First evidence of a major RIVER on Mars is discovered in 3.7 billion-years-old sedimentary rocks preserved in exposed cliff-faces Astronomers studied a 650ft cliff face in a crater on the surface of Mars  It had marks which revealed a river flowed there around 3.7billion years ago   It is unknown how … Read more

Tiny ‘nanocardboard’ flyer weighing less than a fruit fly could help NASA collect samples on Mars

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A tiny ‘nanocardboard’ flyers powered by lasers and inspired by corrugated cardboard could help NASA collect evidence of life on Mars. US engineers say a fleet of the miniature aircraft could be launched from ground-based rovers and steered with light to collect chemical samples on the Red Planet. Each nanocardboard device consists of a hollow … Read more

China names first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 after an ancient poem

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‘Quest for Heavenly Truth’: China’s first Mars exploration mission will be called ‘Tianwen-1’ after a 2,000-year-old poem that ponders on stars and planets The mission will see China send an orbiter, lander and a rover to the Red Planet While on the planet the six wheeled 440lbs rover will study the Martian ground All future … Read more

Incredible photo captures the moment the planets Mars, Saturn and Jupiter align above the Moon

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Incredible photo captures the moment the planets Mars, Saturn and Jupiter align above a waning Pink Moon just before dawn The celestial lineup was captured above the village of Cobham, England  This is the closest that the three planets will seem from the Earth until 2022  ‘Near’ to Jupiter and Saturn today, the Moon will ‘approach’ … Read more

NASA scientists are having to operate the Curiosity rover on Mars from home

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Scientists working from home due to coronavirus lockdown measures were able to operate the NASA Curiosity rover – which is 125 million miles away on Mars. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory team continue to explore red planet despite not being able to go into their California office or use high end workstations. Working on ordinary … Read more

NASA reveals plans for ‘Artemis Base Camp’ on the moon that help astronauts get ready for Mars

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NASA reveals its plan for ‘Artemis Base Camp’ on the MOON that will become home to four astronauts in 2024 as they gear up for first trip to Mars NASA astronauts are set to travel to the moon in 2024 in the Artemis mission A new report describes how they will live and travel on … Read more

Glowing green microbes on Earth could hold the key to life on Mars

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Mars could be teeming with glowing green microbes, according to researchers who found the bacteria living in volcanic rocks deep beneath the ocean floor.  A wide variety of bacteria have been found thriving in rocks deep below the Earth’s oceans in densely packed communities and the same is likely true of Mars.    Researchers from the … Read more