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Planetary Science and Resources Discoveries (PSRD) is an educational site sharing the latest research on the nature and origin of the Moon, meteorites, asteroids, planets, and other materials in our Solar System, and on identifying potential resources on those bodies that could be tapped for the benefit of people on Earth. Original support came from the Planetary Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate and Hawai'i Space Grant Consortium. This site is a vital link for what's new in planetary and space sciences, space resources exploration, and learning how science works.

Archive of Mars Articles

Articles listed by publication date.

DATE POSTED	HEADLINE ARTICLES	PDF VERSIONS
1 MAY 2020	Explaining the Compositional Heterogeneities of the Martian Mantle by Late Accretion of Large Projectiles by G. Jeffrey Taylor Compositional variations in the Martian mantle may be caused by addition of a few large impactors after planet construction was mostly finished.
APRIL 2020	Cosmic Dust in Planetary Atmospheres by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Models and experiments show the fate of cosmic dust that enters the atmospheres of planets and how ionization and ablation of the cosmic dust influences chemistry all the way to the surface.
AUG 2018	Rolling Stones on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Researchers use orbital images to document active geologic activity–boulder movement–on steep slopes of high-latitude Martian craters.
JAN 2018	Boron Found in Martian Meteorites and in situ in Gale Crater by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - The discovery of in situ, water-soluble boron on Mars enables researchers to better track the history of Martian aqueous activity, habitability, and the potential for development of life.
NOV 2017	Bounty of Iron Meteorites Found on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Six specimens now have official names and designation as meteorites found on Mars.
4 MAY 2017	Two Billion Years of Magmatism in One Place on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor New data from a Martian meteorite extends the time of magmatic activity by 1.8 billion years in a volcanic center that provided us a coherent group of Martian meteorites.
DEC 2016	The Idea of Hematite Formation on Mars Through Photo-Oxidation by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Results from photo-oxidation experiments lead to a model for hematite on early Mars.
11 NOV 2016	Searching for Ancient Solar System Materials on the Moon, Earth, and Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor The early history of the Solar System is recorded by meteorites falling now, but also by those that fell hundreds of millions to billions of years ago, preserved in lunar samples, sedimentary layers on Earth, and even sitting on the surface of Mars.
SEPT 2016	Icarus Journal–Mars Science Discoveries from Surface and Orbital Information by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Eight articles inside the December 2016 issue look at Mars at multiple scales: MicroMars to MegaMars.
APRIL 2016	Mars Gravity, Tides, and Love Number by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Radio tracking data of orbiting spacecraft are used to investigate the gravity field, solid tides, and the Love number on Mars.
DEC 2015	Probing Bulk Magma Compositions of Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Using small melt inclusions in olivine crystals in the Tissint meteorite to investigate bulk magma compositions of Mars.
MAY 2015	Making an Argument Against the Late Veneer Hypothesis for Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - HSE contents in the mantle of Mars are due to a long process of equilibration during the planet's growth, influenced by the combined effects of pressure, temperature, and core composition.
FEB 2015	Elements Magazine–Issue on the Mineralogy of Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Six articles inside the February 2015 issue look at Mars with Curiosity rover data.
23 JUNE 2014	The Importance of When by G. Jeffrey Taylor Isotopic analyses at the microscopic scale indicate an ancient age for an impact mixture from Mars and appear to confirm a young age for a group of basaltic lava flows.
JAN 2014	The First Rock Ages Returned from the Surface of Mars by Jesse Davenport CosmoSparks Report - Measurements by NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover help scientists determine the age of a mudstone at Gale crater.
DEC 2013	Eden Patera, Mars—New Category of Ancient Martian Volcanism? by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - New study suggests plains-style caldera complexes in Arabia Terra.
SEPT 2013	Composition of the Rocknest Deposit, Gale Crater, Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Coupled with laboratory data on Martian meteorites, Curiosity rover analyses give a much fuller picture of the geological and geochemical evolution of the Martian surface.
30 JAN 2013	New Martian Meteorite is Similar to Typical Martian Crust by G. Jeffrey Taylor A newly-identified Martian meteorite from Northwest Africa is not like other Martian meteorites, but has a chemical composition similar to the average Martian crust.
10 DEC 2012	Zinc Isotopes Provide Clues to Volatile Loss During Moon Formation by G. Jeffrey Taylor Ratios of zinc isotopes indicate evaporation of zinc (and other volatiles) during formation of the Moon. Includes new zinc isotopic data for Martian meteorites.
26 OCT 2012	Exploring the Mantle of Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor and Linda M. V. Martel Cosmochemistry and geophysics experts meet to discuss what we know and do not yet know about the composition, structure, and evolution of the Martian mantle.
AUG 2012	Mantle of Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Insights to the interior of Mars: theme of an upcoming workshop in Houston, TX and a newly selected NASA geophysical mission.
31 JULY 2012	How Much Water is Inside Mars? by G. Jeffrey Taylor The interior of Mars appears to be as wet as the interior of Earth.
MAY 2012	Weathered Glass on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel CosmoSparks Report - Extensive deposits of weathered, glassy sediments suggest widespread explosive volcanism and late-stage surface alteration by water.
15 MAR 2012	Young Tectonic Events in Martian Chaotic Terrain by Linda M. V. Martel Study of a faulted landslide in Aureum Chaos and its ramifications.
15 DEC 2011	Formation of Carbonate Minerals in Martian Meteorite ALH 84001 from Cool Water Near the Surface of Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor A new approach to thermometry using isotopic compositions of carbon and oxygen indicates that carbonate minerals in Martian meteorite ALH 84001 formed at 18 ± 4 ^oC.
27 MAY 2011	Timeline of Martian Volcanism by Linda M. V. Martel High-resolution images allow a larger range of crater sizes to date calderas and the last major periods of volcanic activity on Mars.
31 JAN 2011	Mineral Abundances in Martian Soils by Linda M. V. Martel Mineral abundances calculated from a trio of datasets reveal mixtures of unrelated igneous and alteration minerals in Martian dark soils.
21 MAY 2010	A Younger Age for the Oldest Martian Meteorite by G. Jeffrey Taylor New isotopic analyses show that famous Martian meteorite ALH 84001 formed 4.09 billion years ago, not 4.50 billion years ago as originally reported.
8 MAY 09	Mars Crust: Made of Basalt by G. Jeffrey Taylor Chemical analyses of rocks on the Martian surface indicate that the Martian crust was built of basalt lava flows not much different from those on Earth.
30 MAY 08	Meteorites Found on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel No surprise that there are meteorites on other planets. Now that we've seen them on Mars, what do we know about them and what does their geochemistry tell us about the environment where they landed?
29 JAN 07	Did Martian Meteorites Come From These Sources? by Linda M. V. Martel Researchers find large rayed craters on Mars and consider the reasons why they may be launching sites of Martian meteorites.
19 DEC 06	Squeezing Meteorites to Reveal the Martian Mantle by G. Jeffrey Taylor Experiments at high temperature and pressure give clues to the composition of the interior of Mars.
26 OCT 06	LIBS: Remote Analysis of Elemental Compositions by Linda M. V. Martel Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an active remote sensing technique used for the rapid characterization of elemental compositions of materials.
31 MAR 06	A Primordial and Complicated Ocean of Magma on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor Geophysical and geochemical calculations indicate that total melting of Mars during its formation could have led to large-scale heterogeneities in its mantle.
27 DEC 05	Magma and Water on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor Martian meteorites tell us part of the fascinating story about when volcanoes erupted and water flowed.
29 JULY 05	Martian Meteorites Record Surface Temperatures on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor Gases trapped in Martian meteorites indicate that Mars has been a cold desert for a long, long time.
31 JAN 05	Recent Activity on Mars: Fire and Ice by Linda M. V. Martel New images from Mars Express show evidence of recent volcanic and glacial activity on Mars, consistent with what we know from Martian meteorites and previous evaluations of the planet's internal heat production and climate.
23 DEC 04	Cosmochemistry and Human Exploration by G. Jeffrey Taylor Cosmochemistry plays an important role in developing local resources on the Moon and Mars, essential to sustained human presence in space.
1 JULY 04	Carbonates in ALH 84001: Part of the Story of Water on Mars by Catherine M. Corrigan The study of multi-generational carbonate assemblages in Martian meteorite ALH 84001 reveals a complex history of crystal formation, growth, and alteration.
23 JUNE 04	The Multifarious Martian Mantle by G. Jeffrey Taylor Detailed analyses of Martian meteorites reveal that the planet's interior preserves distinctive regions that formed 4.5 billion years ago.
28 NOV 03	Hafnium, Tungsten, and the Differentiation of the Moon and Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor Experiments help us understand the timing of core formation and nature of initial melting in the Moon and Mars.
7 NOV 03	Pretty Green Mineral -- Pretty Dry Mars? by Linda M. V. Martel The discovery of olivine-bearing rocks on Mars underscores the need to understand weathering rates of silicates in the Martian environment.
28 OCT 03	Show Me the Carbonates by Linda M. V. Martel Carbonate minerals intermingle with silicates in the Martian surface dust.
29 AUG 03	Gullied Slopes on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel Do the Martian gullies tell us something about the stability and distribution of near-surface water?
16 JULY 03	Ancient Floodwaters and Seas on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel Surface deposits within the northern lowlands support the oceans hypothesis.
13 MAR 03	Gray Iron Oxide in Meridiani, Mars by Linda M. V. Martel A deposit of gray hematite in Terra Meridiani may suggest that water once circulated through the rock layers in this region of Mars.
30 AUG 02	The Wet, Oxidizing Crust of Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor Analysis of isotopes and oxide minerals in Martian meteorites indicate that many magmas interacted with a wet, oxidizing crust as they oozed from the Martian mantle to its reddish surface.
5 JUNE 02	Dirty Ice on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor Instruments on the Odyssey spacecraft show that a lot of dirty ice sits within a meter of the surface in the south polar latitudes of Mars.
22 MAY 02	The Tricky Business of Identifying Rocks on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor A new analysis of thermal emission spectra suggests a new interpretation for the composition of the Martian surface.
26 JUNE 01	If Lava Mingled with Ground Ice on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel Planetary geologists use Icelandic volcanic formations called "rootless cones" to explain clusters of small cones on Mars.
14 JUNE 01	Outflow Channels May Make a Case for a Bygone Ocean on Mars by Linda M. V. Martel Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter data have given scientists a new perspective of the dry channels in Chryse Planitia and a new approach to testing the Martian ancient ocean hypothesis.
24 APRIL 01	Gullies and Canyons, Rocks and Experiments: The Mystery of Water on Mars by G. Jeffrey Taylor The combination of analyses of Martian meteorites and laboratory experiments helps scientists understand how water in magma has changed the Martian crust and surface.
21 NOV 00	Mining the Moon, Mars, and Asteroids by G. Jeffrey Taylor Applied cosmochemistry plays a key role in plans to use the resources of the Moon, Mars, and asteroids.
24 MAY 00	Liquid Water on Mars: The Story from Meteorites by G. Jeffrey Taylor Martian meteorites may have reacted with liquid water on Mars intermittently during the past 650 million years.
17 DEC 99	Zapping Mars Rocks with Gamma Rays by G. Jeffrey Taylor One way to sterilize samples from Mars is to zap them with gamma rays. Will this ruin the rock for other studies? Apparently not.
24 SEPT 98	For a Cup of Water on Mars: Gusev Crater by Linda M. V. Martel Gusev crater's long history as a depositional site for water-laid sediments makes it a priority site for future biological explorations.
18 DEC 97	Fossils in Martian Meteorite: Real or Imagined? by G. Jeffrey Taylor Some scientists suggest that the small, wormy structures in martian meteorite ALH84001 are features of the crystals in the rock, decorated with artifacts introduced during sample preparation, not nanofossils. The discoverers of the fossil-like objects disagree.
22 AUG 97	The Martian Interior by G. Jeffrey Taylor Data from martian meteorites and high pressure experiments give us a glimpse of the interior of the planet Mars.
22 AUG 97	Testing the Evidence for Life on Mars: NASA and NSF Fund New Studies of Martian Meteorite by G. Jeffrey Taylor Newly awarded grants will fund 23 projects to further analyze martian meteorite ALH84001 and the details that led to last year's announcement of possible ancient martian life.
22 MAY 97	Shocked Carbonates may Spell N-o L-i-f-e in Martian Meteorite ALH84001 by Edward R. D. Scott Evidence for redistribution of carbonates by shock casts doubt on fossil life in martian meteorite.
22 MAY 97	Low-temperature Origin of Carbonates Consistent with Life in ALH84001 by G. Jeffrey Taylor Evidence from magnetism and isotopes consistent with life in martian meteorite.
31 MAR 97	Life on Mars--The Debate Continues by G. Jeffrey Taylor Scientists continue their search for answers to the question of fossil life in a martian meteorite. Have we found evidence for life, nonbiologic processes or contamination? The great debate is far from over.
31 MAR 97	Not Quite a Meeting of the Minds by G. Jeffrey Taylor The debate about life in martian meteorite ALH 84001 at the 28th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference was vigorous. Some investigators will turn out to be right, others wrong, but there will be no losers.
21 DEC 96	Meteorites from Mars, Rocks from Canada by Rachel C. Friedman There is more to Mars rocks than suspected fossils. Scientists are using ancient lava flows in eastern Ontario to understand the formation of a group of meteorites from Mars.
18 OCT 96	Life on Mars? by G. Jeffrey Taylor A group of scientists, headed by Dr. David McKay of Johnson Space Center, have made a case for ancient life on Mars based on features in a meteorite found in Antarctica. Do we indeed have evidence of life on Mars?

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