| |
View all articles for this topic.
Is There Life on Mars? Ask a Magnet.
Magnetite, a type of iron oxide, is common on both Earth and Mars, and appears in many forms. On Earth, some of those forms are produced only by bacteria and have unique magnetic signatures. Soon Sam Kim has developed a means of detecting this biologically-produced magnetite that could help in the search for life on Mars.
Mapping Mars from Wet to Dry
High-resolution data from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s CRISM instrument has been used to create a new online map of Mars. The map allows visitors to see Mars' progression through wet, volcanic and dry eras.
A.I. on Mars
Artificial intelligence is giving a boost to Mars Express as it searches for signs of past or present life on Mars.
The Arm of Opportunity
NASA's Opportunity rover is having difficulty with a small motor in its robotic arm. Researchers are assessing how the rover's mission will be affected if the motor is no longer usable.
Icy Active Mars
New evidence shows that Mars' climate may have been much more dynamic than previously thought. The research has implications in understanding whether or not Mars could have supported life in its past.
Colorful Phobos
NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured a new stereo view of Mars' largest moon, Phobos. The image could yield new information about Mars and its unique moons.
Visiting Mars, Again and Again
There are several new missions set to explore the planet Mars over the next decade. Astrobiology Magazine recently discussed these missions with Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program, and Luann Becker, a geochemist who is developing an instrument for the European Space Agency’s ExoMars mission.
Following the Paper Trail of Ancient Life
Researchers have found the earliest direct evidence of biological material on Earth in the form of cellulose microfibers. The finding also indicates that cellulose could be an excellent biosignature to search for on other planets.
Odyssey's Outlook
NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter has discovered evidence of salt deposits on the surface of Mars. These deposits may indicate areas where water was abundant and where best to search for signs of past life.
| |
