Martian Mantle Holds Clues to Planet's Violent Past and Solid Core

According to new research based on data from NASA's retired InSight lander, the interior of Mars is both similar to and strikingly different from Earth. Two separate teams of scientists have uncovered intriguing details about the red planet's mantle and core.

The first study, published in the journal Nature, reveals that Mars's innermost core is solid, just like Earth's. However, the Martian mantle is far from smooth, as described in a separate paper published in Science. Instead, the mantle is filled with ancient debris, giving it a texture more akin to rocky road ice cream than the relatively uniform composition of Earth's mantle.

The debris extends nearly 900 miles below the Martian surface, with some fragments over 2 miles wide. Researchers believe this material was likely injected into the mantle by a series of violent collisions in the planet's past. The sluggish nature of the mantle has prevented this debris from being fully stirred away over billions of years.

Despite the similarities in core structure, Mars lacks the magnetic field that shields Earth from harmful solar radiation. Researchers suggest this may be partly due to the inefficient heat transfer from the core caused by the mantle's sluggish state.

These new insights into Mars's interior could help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of other rocky planets, both within our solar system and beyond. The knowledge gained from studying the red planet's unique geological features may also shed light on the conditions necessary for habitability on different worlds.