Tests conducted with tardigrades suggest that there is something in Martian dirt that dramatically reduces biological ...

A new study shows how simulated Mars dust affects tardigrades, offering insight into space farming and contamination risks.

As an astronomer studying the universe beyond Earth, I’m fond of “outside the box” views almost by default. But one of my favorites is whenever a spacecraft takes a snapshot of our home world and the ...

Mars is not what it used to be. Once warm, watery, and blanketed by a thick atmosphere, today the Red Planet is cold, dry, and draped by a thin atmospheric veil. The main culprit is a relentless ...

Tardigrades, commonly known as water bears, may be better suited by a new name: Tardiguardians of the Galaxy. Unlike the fictional ragtag team of unenthusiastic heroes, the microscopic animals are ...

Mars may already possess a built-in defense against contamination from Earth. Experiments using simulated Martian soil show ...

A huge solar storm struck Mars in 2024, supercharging its upper atmosphere and briefly disrupting spacecraft orbiting the Red Planet.

At half the size of Earth and one-tenth its mass, Mars is a featherweight as far as planets go. Yet new research reveals the extent to which Mars is quietly tugging on Earth's orbit and shaping the ...