New Discovery Could Explain What Gives Mars its Red Color

01Scientists say they might have identified the mineral on Mars that is responsible for making the planet appear red.

02New data collected on Mars through several methods suggests the substance, called ferrohydrate, is likely found in dust and rock material across wide areas of the planet.

03The team carrying out the research describes ferrohydrate as an iron oxide mineral.

04The mineral appears reddish in color and can form in water-rich environments.

05The 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.

06The research was carried out by an international team led by America's Brown University and the University of Bern in Switzerland.

07The findings recently appeared in a study published in Nature Communications.

08The 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.

09Past 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, NASA'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 man-made or synthetic material designed to look and feel similar to real Martian dust.

15Artemis Valentinus currently works as a researcher at Brown University's Department of Earth, Environment, and Planetary Sciences.

16He helped write the study.

17Valentinus noted the mystery of why Mars is red had been considered for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.

18Valentinus recognized his team was not the first to consider ferahydrite as a possible reason for the coloring of Mars.

19But, he noted, it has never been proven as we have now, using observational data and novel laboratory methods.

20Valentinus noted the discovery of widespread ferahydrite suggests Mars once held liquid water that would have made it possible for the planet to support some form of life.

21Our study reveals that ferahydrite formation on Mars required the presence of both oxygen and water capable of reacting with iron, he added.

22These conditions were very different from the dry, cold environment of Mars today.

23John Mustard is a planetary expert at Brown University and was a co-writer of the study.

24He called it a door-opening opportunity for future research.

25But, he added, that additional study is needed to confirm the team's latest findings.

26As 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.

27He added, when we get those back, we will be able to check whether our theory about ferahydrite is correct.

28I'm Brian Lynn.