Mars' Red Color Reveals Ancient Watery Past: New Research Identifies Ferrihydrite in Martian Dust, Suggesting Earlier Water Presence

New research indicates that Mars' red color is due to the presence of ferrihydrite, a water-rich iron oxide, in the planet's dust. This discovery suggests that liquid water existed on Mars' surface earlier than previously thought. Scientists from Brown University and the University of Bern analyzed Martian dust samples and found that a combination of basaltic volcanic rock and ferrihydrite best matches the composition of the red dust. Data from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and rovers like Curiosity support this identification. The presence of ferrihydrite, which forms rapidly in cool water, implies that Mars had liquid water on its surface in the past. Upcoming missions, including ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover and the NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission, will further investigate the composition of Martian dust and its implications for the history of water and potential for life on Mars. A miniaturized, laser-powered mass spectrometer has been tested and confirmed effective in identifying microbial fossils in gypsum deposits similar to those found on Mars, opening possibilities for its use in future Mars exploration missions.