New Study Links Mars' Red Color to Ancient Wet Conditions

Researchers identify ferrihydrite as the key mineral behind Mars' redness, suggesting the planet once had a cold and wet climate capable of supporting liquid water.

The study, published in Nature Communications, identifies ferrihydrite, an iron oxide mineral, as the primary cause of Mars' red color.
Ferrihydrite forms in water-rich environments, indicating that Mars once had a cold and wet climate billions of years ago.
This discovery challenges previous theories that attributed Mars' redness to hematite, which forms in drier and warmer conditions.
Researchers used a combination of data from Mars rovers, orbiters, and laboratory experiments to simulate Martian dust and analyze its composition.
The findings suggest Mars' ancient environment may have been more conducive to life, though further research and sample analysis are needed to confirm these conclusions.