water life mars

Could evidence of life on Mars be hiding in clay? Europe wants to send a rover to check

By Chelsea Gohd Published 9 July 26

ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover will investigate possible signs of life in Martian clay.

This life-hunting rover may be SpaceX's 1st-ever Mars launch

By Mike Wall Published 18 April 26

SpaceX will launch Europe's life-hunting Rosalind Franklin rover toward Mars in 2028 — but not aboard the company's Starship megarocket.

1st human missions to Mars should hunt for signs of life, report says

By Mike Wall Published 9 December 25

Humanity's exploration of Mars should be organized around the search for signs of past or present Red Planet life, according to a new report from the U.S. National Academies.

Evidence of ancient life on Mars could be hidden away in colossal water-carved caves

By Keith Cooper Published 24 November 25

Skylights, openings in the surface of Mars that descend down into caves, have been found on Mars, along with signatures for the presence of water ice.

Mars rovers serve as scientists' eyes and ears from millions of miles away – here are the tools Perseverance used to spot a potential sign of ancient life

By Ari Koeppel Published 30 September 25

Science, especially when conducted remotely on another planet, is rarely black and white.

Could a Mars crater have once hosted life? NASA's Perseverance rover finds more evidence it's possible

By Sharmila Kuthunur Published 19 September 25

Fresh analysis of Perseverance rover data reveals Jezero Crater experienced repeated episodes of water activity, strengthening the case for habitability and raising the stakes for Mars Sample Return.

Landing site for Rosalind Franklin rover may be ripe with clues about ancient Mars life

By Stefanie Waldek Published 19 September 25

Natural geologic processes at Mars' Oxia Planum may improve the Rosalind Franklin rover's chances of detecting organic compounds.

Could Mars volcanoes have supported ancient life on the Red Planet? Well, maybe

By Stefanie Waldek Published 18 April 25

Using NASA's Perseverance rover to analyze Martian rocks, researchers suggest that Mars' complex volcanism might hold clues about the planet's ancient habitability.

On ancient Mars, carbon dioxide ice kept the water running. Here's how

By Keith Cooper Published 8 November 24

Huge shells of frozen carbon dioxide at Mars' south polar cap resulted in subsurface meltwater, which fed a huge system of rivers, lakes and even a sea, a new study suggests.

Mystery Lines on Mars Carved By Water, Study Suggests

By Charles Q. Choi Published 4 August 11

The salt water could be flowing on Mars now, scientists say.