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.

Mars is still the Red Planet. It’s just that our understanding of why Mars is red has been transformed. The major implication is that because ferrihydrite could only have for

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.

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.

Thanks to new research techniques published today, scientists say that "our understanding of why Mars is red has been transformed."

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.

Mars has been known as the Red Planet for thousands of years; even the ancient Egyptians called it ‘The Red One’ (Her Desher). Now scientists think they have worked out exactly what gives our closest planetary neighbour its rusty hue,