Articles for tag: carbon cycle, curiosity rover, habitability, Mars, palnetary climate

OSIRIS Mars true color

Ancient Mars Had a Carbon Cycle—A Clue to Its Warmer, Wetter Past

April Joy Jovita

A new study suggests that Mars may have once had an active carbon cycle, which could explain why the planet was warmer and wetter billions of years ago. Researchers analyzing data from NASA’s Curiosity rover found evidence of carbonate minerals, indicating that Mars once had a thicker carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere capable of supporting liquid water. ...

Mars or Bust: Is SpaceX Distracting Us From Earth’s Problems?

Mars or Bust: Is SpaceX Distracting Us From Earth’s Problems?

Annette Uy

The stars have always called to us, but right now, few calls are louder than the roar of SpaceX rockets piercing the sky. As Elon Musk and his team push humanity toward Mars, there’s a sense of awe and excitement—yet also a whisper of discomfort. Can we afford to chase distant worlds while our own ...

International Day of Human Space Flight: How Earth’s Microbes Might Survive on Mars

International Day of Human Space Flight: How Earth’s Microbes Might Survive on Mars

Annette Uy

Imagine a world where Earth’s tiniest inhabitants could hold the key to life on another planet. As we celebrate the International Day of Human Space Flight, the possibility of Earth’s microbes surviving on Mars isn’t just a science fiction fantasy—it’s a tantalizing reality that scientists are actively exploring. Could these microscopic organisms pave the way ...

Why Perseverance's Sample Collection Is Pure Gold

What Would Gender Look Like on Mars? Reproduction and Identity in Space

Annette Uy

Picture this: humanity’s first child born on Mars takes their first breath of recycled air inside a pressurized habitat, while outside, red dust storms rage across alien terrain. But as this Martian-born human grows up, questions emerge that Earth-bound societies have never faced. What does it mean to be male or female when gravity is ...

Scientists Are Studying Volcanic Lightning to Understand Planetary Weather on Mars

Scientists Are Studying Volcanic Lightning to Understand Planetary Weather on Mars

Annette Uy

It’s hard not to feel a shiver of excitement when thinking about lightning crackling through a volcanic ash cloud—nature’s fireworks, wild and unpredictable. But what if these electrifying displays on Earth hold secrets to the mysteries of weather on Mars? Scientists are now turning their attention to volcanic lightning, hoping it will unlock answers about ...

What Mars' Ancient Riverbeds Reveal About Its Watery Past

What Mars’ Ancient Riverbeds Reveal About Its Watery Past

Annette Uy

Imagine standing on the rusty surface of Mars, gazing across a landscape carved by winding channels and mysterious valleys. It’s hard not to feel a jolt of wonder: What worlds of water once flowed here, and what secrets do these ancient riverbeds still hold? For decades, scientists have been captivated (and sometimes haunted) by the ...