On October 25, 2023, scientists announced a significant discovery about the core of Mars. Using data from NASA's InSight lander, they have found evidence of a molten layer within the Martian core. This discovery challenges previous assumptions that the core was entirely solid.
The InSight lander, which landed on Mars in 2018, has been studying the planet's interior using seismometers to detect marsquakes. These marsquakes generate seismic waves that travel through the planet and provide information about its internal structure.
The discovery of a molten layer suggests that the Martian core is not entirely solid but contains a layer of molten rock. This layer is believed to be composed of a mixture of iron, nickel, and lighter elements such as sulfur, oxygen, and silicon.
The presence of a molten layer could have significant implications for our understanding of Mars' magnetic field. Mars once had a global magnetic field, similar to Earth's, but it disappeared billions of years ago. The existence of a molten layer could help explain why Mars lost its magnetic field.
This discovery also has implications for the study of other rocky planets. It suggests that the cores of other planets may also contain molten layers, which could have significant effects on their magnetic fields and overall geology.
The findings were published in the journal Nature on October 25, 2023.