Imagine you've just gotten to Mars as part of the first contingent of settlers. Your first challenge: build a long-term habitat using local materials. Those might include water from the polar caps ...

A lichen that grows like powder dusted on a rock. Image by Tigerente - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 A lichen that grows like powder dusted on a rock. Image by Tigerente - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 NASA’s next ...

On November 13, 1971, Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit Mars. At the time, scientists didn't know much about the ...

Why it matters: As space agencies and private companies plan to build colonies on the Moon and Mars, the ability to produce building materials on site will be crucial. Recent breakthroughs in this ...

The fact that the cold, dry Mars of today had flowing rivers and lakes several billion years ago has puzzled scientists for decades. Now, researchers think they have a good explanation for a warmer, ...

Early Mars may have been a bit more like early Earth. Having actual evidence that Mars was a wet planet, and somewhat similar to Earth is just awesome. Can't wait for the day we find evidence of life.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The longest molecules ever found on Mars have been unearthed by NASA's ...