New Discovery Could Explain What Gives Mars its Red Color
2025-03-03
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1Scientists say they might have identified the mineral on Mars that is responsible for making the planet appear red.
2New data collected on Mars through several methods suggests the substance, called ferrihydrite, is likely found in dust and rock material across wide areas of the planet.
3The team carrying out the research describes ferrihydrite as an "iron oxide mineral."
4The mineral appears reddish in color and can form in water-rich environments.
5The scientists said discovering large amounts of it on Mars adds to existing evidence that the planet might have held a large supply of liquid water in the past.
6The research was carried out by an international team led by America's Brown University and the University of Bern in Switzerland.
7The findings recently appeared in a study published in Nature Communications.
8The researchers noted that scientists have long wondered about the exact substance that gives Mars - which is also known as the Red Planet - its deep red color.
9Past studies had suggested a mineral called hematite might be the cause.
10The study is based on Martian data collected by several spacecraft.
11These include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, operated by the American space agency NASA.
12In addition, information was captured by instruments aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Mars Express and Trace Gas orbiters.
13Some data also came from exploring vehicles, called rovers, operating on Mars.
14In their examinations, the researchers also used manmade, or synthetic, material designed to look and feel similar to real Martian dust.
15Adomas Valantinas currently works as a researcher at Brown University's Department of Earth, Environment & Planetary Sciences.
16He helped write the study. Valantinas noted the mystery of why Mars is red had been considered "for hundreds, if not thousands, of years."
17Valantinas recognized his team was not the first to consider ferrihydrite as a possible reason for the coloring of Mars.
18But he noted, "it has never been proven as we have now, using observational data and novel laboratory methods..."
19Valantinas noted the discovery of widespread ferrihydrite suggests Mars once held liquid water that would have made it possible for the planet to support some form of life.
20"Our study reveals that ferrihydrite formation on Mars required the presence of both oxygen...and water capable of reacting with iron," he added.
21"These conditions were very different from the dry, cold environment of Mars today."
22John Mustard is a planetary expert at Brown University and was a co-writer of the study.
23He called it "a door-opening opportunity" for future research.
24But he added that additional study is needed to confirm the team's latest findings.
25"As exciting as the new findings are, we realize that our results can only be verified by samples from Mars, which are currently being collected by NASA's Perseverance rover," Mustard said.
26He added, "When we get those back, we will be able to check whether our theory about ferrihydrite is correct."
27I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Scientists say they might have identified the mineral on Mars that is responsible for making the planet appear red. 2New data collected on Mars through several methods suggests the substance, called ferrihydrite, is likely found in dust and rock material across wide areas of the planet. The team carrying out the research describes ferrihydrite as an "iron oxide mineral." 3The mineral appears reddish in color and can form in water-rich environments. The scientists said discovering large amounts of it on Mars adds to existing evidence that the planet might have held a large supply of liquid water in the past. 4The research was carried out by an international team led by America's Brown University and the University of Bern in Switzerland. The findings recently appeared in a study published in Nature Communications. 5The researchers noted that scientists have long wondered about the exact substance that gives Mars - which is also known as the Red Planet - its deep red color. Past studies had suggested a mineral called hematite might be the cause. 6The study is based on Martian data collected by several spacecraft. These include the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, operated by the American space agency NASA. In addition, information was captured by instruments aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Mars Express and Trace Gas orbiters. Some data also came from exploring vehicles, called rovers, operating on Mars. 7In their examinations, the researchers also used manmade, or synthetic, material designed to look and feel similar to real Martian dust. 8Adomas Valantinas currently works as a researcher at Brown University's Department of Earth, Environment & Planetary Sciences. He helped write the study. Valantinas noted the mystery of why Mars is red had been considered "for hundreds, if not thousands, of years." 9Valantinas recognized his team was not the first to consider ferrihydrite as a possible reason for the coloring of Mars. But he noted, "it has never been proven as we have now, using observational data and novel laboratory methods..." 10Valantinas noted the discovery of widespread ferrihydrite suggests Mars once held liquid water that would have made it possible for the planet to support some form of life. 11"Our study reveals that ferrihydrite formation on Mars required the presence of both oxygen...and water capable of reacting with iron," he added. "These conditions were very different from the dry, cold environment of Mars today." 12John Mustard is a planetary expert at Brown University and was a co-writer of the study. He called it "a door-opening opportunity" for future research. But he added that additional study is needed to confirm the team's latest findings. 13"As exciting as the new findings are, we realize that our results can only be verified by samples from Mars, which are currently being collected by NASA's Perseverance rover," Mustard said. He added, "When we get those back, we will be able to check whether our theory about ferrihydrite is correct." 14I'm Bryan Lynn. 15Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from 16__________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18novel - adj. new or different from anything else 19opportunity - n. a situation in which it is possible for someone to do something 20verify - v. to confirm whether something is true 21check -v. to find out if something is correct or not