EVOLUTION OF MARS

NEWS

• Recent research by IIT Bombay and collaborating institutions offers new insights into why Mars transformed into a cold, barren desert while Earth evolved into a thriving blue planet.
• Despite forming from the same cosmic dust cloud 4.5 billion years ago, the two planets charted dramatically different evolutionary paths.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

1. Evidence of a Warm, Wet Martian Past

• High-resolution images from NASA, ESA and ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission analysed.
• Geological features—valley networks, ancient deltas, sedimentary formations—indicate:
  • Presence of flowing rivers
  • Existence of glaciers
  • Active hydrological cycles
• These features were dominant during 4.1–3.7 billion years ago, suggesting early Mars was warm enough to sustain liquid water.

2. Transition to a Cold, Icy Planet

• After 3.7 billion years ago, surface water activity declined sharply.
• Valley networks show increasing influence of:
  • Groundwater erosion
  • Glacial modifications
• Marks a shift from a wet climate to a frozen, arid environment.

WHY DIDN’T MARS EVOLVE LIKE EARTH?

Core Reason Identified

• Mars is smaller and cooled faster → core solidified early.
• Loss of molten core led to the disappearance of its global magnetic field.

Consequences

• No magnetic shield → exposure to solar winds and cosmic rays.
• Atmosphere thinned over time.
• Surface water escaped or froze, driving the planet into permanent cold desert conditions.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

• Enhances understanding of comparative planetary evolution.
• Helps refine future Mars exploration strategies—especially for identifying ancient water reservoirs and potential past habitability.
• Published in Advances in Space Research.