Mars

In 2018 astronomers announced the discovery of lakes of liquid water on Mars at the south pole. Sadly, a trio of new papers refutes the claim, with new experiments suggesting that the “water” signal was more likely produced by frozen clay instead.

NASA's InSight has provided … well, insight, into the inner workings of the Red Planet. By monitoring marsquakes over the past two years, the instrument measured the thickness and composition of Mars’ crust, mantle and core, revealing some surprises.

A team of NASA scientists may have resolved a mystery surrounding disappearing methane on Mars, that may hint at the presence of life. The gas was detectable by NASA’s Curiosity rover, but absent in readings taken by an orbiting ESA spacecraft.

Back in May, China became just the third nation to land on the surface of Mars. Its first interplanetary rover, named Zhurong, can now be seen and heard making its very first movements on the Red Planet in newly released recordings.

Lockheed Martin has been selected by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to design and build the aeroshell and heat shield for the space agency's Mars Sample Retrieval Lander, which will help return the first Martian samples to Earth.

After an eventful start to life on Mars that has included capturing the first ever audio recordings on the planet and supporting the Ingenuity helicopter throughout its history-making flights, the Perseverance rover is ready to get down to business.

New research led by the University of California Riverside has identified a relatively simple catalyst that can remove common pollutants called perchlorates, helping reduce water and soil pollution not just on Earth but potentially on Mars one day.

NASA's Curiosity rover has captured a rare perspective of shimmering clouds on Mars at an unexpected time and location, which will help scientists better understand the reasons behind their formation.

Astronauts enduring long-periods in space may be in danger of experiencing a range of adverse health problems, but new research in zebrafish has demonstrated how induced hibernation may help limit the risk posed by radiation.

Tardigrades are some of the toughest known lifeforms, and it’s been proposed they could seed life through asteroid impacts. Now, researchers have tested the hypothesis by firing tardigrades from a gun into sand, and checking how well they survived.

The China National Space Administration has released the first images received from its Tianwen-1 Mars lander. The images captured from different cameras show the deployed rover ramp, the rover's solar panel wing, and the surrounding terrain.

China has taken another big step forward in its ambitious space program, successfully landing its Tianwen-1 probe on Mars, with a rover to soon be rolled out to study the Martian environment from the planet's surface.