Mars
Mars, also known as the Red Planet because of the rich iron oxide that covers its surface, is the second-smallest planet in the Solar System and one of the closest neighbours to Earth. Named after the Roman god of war, Mars has been known to humans since the age of the ancient Egyptians and has fascinated astronomers for thousands of years. Although we are yet to discover Martians, it remains one of the most important sites in the search for alien life, and has been the home of the Mars Curiosity Rover since 2012. Maybe one day, with nations like China and companies like SpaceX investing heavily, it will be a home for humans.
Is there anything on Earth that could withstand conditions on Mars?
Scientists have conducted a variety of experiments to find out what, if anything, could survive the harsh conditions of Mars
These strange markings are the 'clearest sign' of aliens on Mars, say NASA
Huge news for fans of space and David Bowie alike
10 times space missions went hilariously wrong
From dropped tool bags to farting astronauts, spaceflight has had its fair share of amusing mistakes and embarrassing oversights
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Why does Mars have such a weird shape?
It might have something to do with a missing, ancient moon named Nerio
We may finally know what happened to the missing water on Mars
A new study may have uncovered the Red Planet’s long-lost water – and a fresh lead in the search for life
Alien life on Mars: Ancient beach discovery may offer clearest proof yet
It's no Greek island, but the red planet's beaches may still have attracted microbial vacationers.
A city on Mars: Have we really thought this through?
A Mars base might be filled with some annoying housemates, but that doesn't mean we can't aspire to setting up a permanent settlement there.
The science of Dune | Could we terraform Mars?
Dune is set on a desert planet in a distant star system, where science has enabled humans to live and breathe. Could we use the same technology to terraform Mars?
Scientists finally solve mystery of Mars's core
Scientists read the planet’s ‘pulse’ to work out what’s actually going on inside.
Ultimate guide to Mars | Interesting facts, figures and fun questions about the Red Planet
Join us on a journey to the fourth planet from the Sun with amazing facts, incredible images and vital information about Mars.
Women (probably) make for better astronauts. So should the first crew to Mars be all-female?
A new study carried out by the European Space Agency suggests that women may be better suited to space travel than men.
Instant Genius Podcast | The food of the future
How humans will be eating in decades' time – on Earth and Mars.
Mars in opposition: How to see the Red Planet at its biggest and brightest tonight
It's our best opportunity to see the Red Planet until 2025, and tomorrow morning we're in for a rare treat.
Instant Genius podcast | Mars in opposition, with Dr Stu Clark
This week Mars will be lit up by our Sun, providing astronomers and amateur stargazers a wonderful chance to study the Red Planet.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has found organic material deposited under conditions where life could have thrived
The rover has now collected 12 scientifically-compelling rock samples that are due to be brought back to Earth in 2033.
Mars rover’s MOXIE oxygen generator one step closer to supporting human life on the Red Planet
The small instrument, stored on NASA's Perseverance rover, can produce oxygen at the same rate as a tree on Earth.
Rock samples collected by Perseverance rover hold tantalising clues about water and life on Mars
The samples will be returned to Earth for study in the 2030s.
Instant Genius Podcast | Life on Mars, with Lewis Dartnell
Lewis Dartnell, an astrobiologist and research scientist at the University of Westminster, explains what we might find in the search for life on Mars.
Europe’s Martian orbiter releases incredible pictures of the Red Planet’s ‘Grand Canyon’
The images taken by ESA’s Mars Express orbiter show the vast scale of Mars’s Valles Marineris canyon system.
Could bringing back samples of Martian rock contaminate the Earth with foreign microbes?
NASA and ESA plan to bring back samples or rock, soil and air from the Red Planet within the next two decades.
For All Mankind: What’s stopping us from going to Mars?
The third series of this sci-fi drama posits an alternative timeline in which humans visit Mars in the 1990s. So could we soon be flying to the Red Planet?
Dancing planets: How can I see Venus, Saturn and Mars this week?
Take advantage of the clear skies and look out for the three planets as they come into view.
A Year on Mars: What has Perseverance achieved?
It’s been a mission of firsts, and it’s still going strong.
Tonga Volcano | What the once-in-a-lifetime eruption can teach us about the history of Mars
The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano is thought to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. Now, scientists studying the explosion are uncovering information that may help us better understand Mars's volcanic past.