The Mars Post

The Mars Society is proud to announce the publication of its latest book, Students to Mars! This exciting new release highlights the achievements of high school students who participated in the International Design Competition for Human Mars Missions during the summers of 2022 and 2023. A bold challenge: engineering education reimagined Across the...

Mars' dry riverbeds and lake basins suggest liquid once flowed on its surface, but was it water? A new Perspectives article in Nature Geoscience proposes an alternative: liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) may have been just as likely—or even more plausible—under ancient Martian conditions. Liquid CO2: a viable candidate While mineral evidence on Mars...

Mars enthusiasts, take note: a vast 1,800-mile-wide Martian plain, Acidalia Planitia, is at the center of exciting new research that suggests the Red Planet might harbor alien life beneath its surface. Acidalia Planitia: a potential home for alien microbes Beneath the surface of Acidalia Planitia, scientists believe conditions could support microbial life. A...

Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson recently took a shot at Elon Musk’s ambitious plans for Mars colonization, labeling them as overly optimistic. Speaking on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, Tyson questioned the practicality of the venture, suggesting that without a major geopolitical push or massive public funding, Musk’s dream could remain out...

Chinese scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking plan for the Tianwen-3 mission, set to take place between 2028 and 2031. The mission aims to accomplish an unprecedented feat: collecting samples of Martian soil and delivering them to Earth for in-depth scientific analysis, according to XINHUA News. Mission overview: a two-stage plan for success Experts...

A recent NASA study using advanced supercomputer simulations provides a fresh perspective on how Mars might have gained its two moons, Phobos and Deimos. The research suggests the process began with the destruction of an asteroid near the Red Planet. Asteroid destruction sparks moon formation Led by Jacob Kegerreis, a postdoctoral research scientist...

Overview of the BookA City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through? by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith offers a thought-provoking exploration of humanity's push to colonize Mars and beyond. The authors, known for their ability to break down complex topics with clarity and...

Every year on November 28, we celebrate Red Planet Day, honoring humanity’s enduring fascination with Mars. This day marks the anniversary of NASA’s Mariner 4 mission, which launched on November 28, 1964. Mariner 4 became the first spacecraft to capture close-up images of Mars, revolutionizing our understanding of the red planet. Why Is...

Through the intricate study of lava tubes, which are caves formed following volcanic eruptions when lava cools down, an international team of researchers has uncovered clues about Earth’s ancient environments that could be significant in the search for life on Mars. Bogdan P. Onac, professor in the USF School of Geosciences, collaborated with...

NASA has picked four volunteers to spend 45 days in a Mars-like simulation at the Johnson Space Center’s HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) in Houston. Starting Friday, Nov. 1, Obaid Alsuwaidi, Kristen Magas, Tiffany Snyder, and Anderson Wilder will live and work in a 650-square-foot habitat, mimicking what life could be like for...

A new study led by researchers at Curtin University has uncovered what may be the oldest direct evidence of ancient hot water activity on Mars. This finding suggests that the Red Planet might have been a habitable world during its distant past. A closer look at the Black Beauty meteorite The research focused...

For the Love of Mars (2023) by Matthew Shindell explores humanity’s fascination with the Red Planet, blending science history with cultural storytelling. Shindell, a curator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, examines how Mars has inspired myths, science fiction, and exploration, offering a unique perspective on our enduring relationship with the...