Tracing and tracking change in permafrost flowpaths could reveal the dynamics of warming poles.
Mars
Scientists Spot Sputtering on Mars
Nearly a decade’s worth of data went into the first direct observation of sputtering on Mars, which researchers believe contributed to the loss of the Red Planet’s atmosphere.
Orbiter Pair Expands View of Martian Ionosphere
Radio signals sent between two Mars orbiters—rather than between an orbiter and an Earth-based receiver—capture new insights into atmospheric dynamics.
Mini Dunes Form When Sand Stops Bouncing
Decoding how sand grains move and accumulate on Earth can also help scientists understand dune formation on Mars.
Proposed Experiment Could Clarify Origin of Martian Methane
Curiosity’s detection of the gas, if atmospheric, could be an indicator of life on the Red Planet. But skeptics say further work is needed to rule out the rover itself as the source of the methane.
Young Rivers on a Martian Volcano Reveal Insights into the Amazonian Climate
A comprehensive inventory of rivers on Alba Mons on Mars reveals a prolonged history of erosion and development into mature drainage networks during the Amazonian, with contributions of rainfall and snow melt.
Geophysics Sheds Light on Early Martian Water and Habitability
A new study uses inversions of orbital gravity and magnetic field data to argue for the presence of ancient, long-lasting hydrothermal systems on Mars.
NASA Science Faces an “Extinction-Level Event” with Trump Draft Budget Proposal
The initial draft of President Donald Trump’s budget request proposes devastating cuts to NASA’s science research, future space missions, and field centers.
Martian Magmas Live Long and Prosper
The depths, longevity, and potential to generate silicic compositions of magma chambers are linked to crustal temperature, which varies across Mars and over its geological history.
Salt May Be Key to Martian Mudflows
Mars probably has mud volcanoes, and salt might be the ingredient that keeps the flow going.