Vincent Chevrier, associate research professor at the University of Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, is part of an international team of researchers arguing that Mars gets its reddish hue not from hematite,

A study suggests Mars takes its red hue from a type of mineral that forms in cool water, which could reveal insights about whether Mars was ever able to support life.

Martian dust is mostly rust. Mars’s famed color has captivated humankind for centuries, earning its nickname of the ‘Red Planet’. Romans named Mars for their god of war because its colour was reminiscent of blood, while Egyptians called it ‘Her Desher’, meaning ‘the red one.’ CREDIT: A.Valantinas.

Mars is widely known for its iconic rusty red color — many people even refer to it as just the "Red Planet" — but new research suggests the Martian shade isn't just lovely to look at. The chemistry behind Mars' rosy hue may actually hold important information about our cosmic neighbor.

Results from a new study show that the water-rich iron mineral ferrihydrite may be the main pigment behind Mars’ reddish dust.

The Red Planet, as it’s often called, has a distinct hue, and a new theory about this coloration could have implications for our understanding of Mars' evolution.

A new study led by Brown University researchers shows how a water-rich mineral could explain the planet’s color, hinting at a wetter, more habitable past on the Red Planet.

Ferrihydrite, a water-rich iron mineral, plays an important role in giving the red planet its signature hue, according to the study.

A new study may have revealed the true source behind how the Red Planet got its hue. It’s been long thought that Mars shines red due to the rusted iron minerals within the dust that covers the planet — but a study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications suggests otherwise.

Mars’s red dust may contain ferrihydrite, an iron mineral that forms in water. This suggests ancient Mars had water for longer than believed.