Desert Worlds Archives

Quantitative morphological metric extraction results and numerical simulation results. A. Spatial distribution of DAF across the study area, overlaid on a shaded relief base map derived from DTEEC_033165_2195_032875_2195_A01 (26). Colors represent specific DAF values indicated by the color bar on the bottom right. The MBT boundary is shown as a black dashed line. B. Schematic diagram defining the key morphological feature of MBT. The curve represents the terrain tangent of MBT. The yellow shaded areas indicate depression. The dashed line represents the depression threshold elevation (DTE) (see SI Appendix). C-E. HiRISE images of three local MBT in the study area. All three images share the same scale-bar. F-H. Detrended observed elevation data for three MBT areas shown in C-E, respectively (SI Appendix, Fig. S3). The white contour lines, which correspond to DTE values, outline the depression areas. Colors indicate elevation value using a color bar shown to the right of H. The I-K. Simulation results with increasing maximum stone movement rate (𝑣max): 3.25 mm/cycle (I), 3.40 mm/cycle (J) and 3.90 mm/cycle(K).Colors represent the simulated elevation using a common color bar shown to the right of K. -- astro-ph.EP

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Desert Worlds, Fossils & Paleontology, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Sculpting Of Martian Brain Terrain Reveals The Drying Of Ancient Mars

by Keith CowingFebruary 5, 2026February 5, 2026

The Martian brain terrain (MBT), characterized by its unique brain-like morphology, is a potential geological archive for finding hints of paleoclimatic conditions during its formation period.

Mars dust storm captured by ESA’s Mars Express near the north polar ice cap. Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (larger image)

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Desert Worlds, Habitable Zones, Mars, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

An Unusual Dust Storm Reveals How Mars Lost Some Of Its Water

by Keith CowingFebruary 3, 2026

The current image of Mars as an arid and hostile desert contrasts with the history revealed by its surface. Channels, minerals altered by water, and other geological traces indicate that […]

This annotated orbital image depicts the AI-planned (depicted in magenta) and actual (orange) routes the Perseverance Mars rover took during its Dec. 10, 2025, drive at Jezero Crater. The drive was the second of two demonstrations showing that generative AI could be incorporated into rover route planning. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UofA

AI - Data - Apps - Cybernetics, Desert Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Missions & Hardware, People Of Astrobiology, Press Release, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Sample Return

Perseverance Rover Completes First AI-Planned Drive on Mars

by Keith CowingJanuary 31, 2026January 31, 2026

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has completed the first drives on another world that were planned by artificial intelligence. Executed on Dec. 8 and 10, and led by the agency’s Jet […]

A Tributary channels identified in the northward facing promontory of the Southeast Coprates Chasma and Strahler orders characterizing the geometry of the channel networks in the various drainage basins. B Topographic cross-section drawn from elevation data that is extracted from the DEM along the red line across the promontory. The downward arrows indicate the depth of the local bedrock incision. SFD = scarp-fronted deposit. -- NPJ

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Mars, Press Release, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Mars Was Half Covered By An Ocean

by Keith CowingJanuary 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Using images from cameras on Mars orbiters, an international research team led by the University of Bern has discovered structures on Mars that are very similar to classic river deltas […]

New research shows that diverse populations of organisms can persist in the soil despite harsh and extremely dry conditions. Credit Jan Voelkel - University of Cologne

Analog Studies, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Habitable Zones, Microbiology & Virology, Press Release, Sample Return

Organisms In The Atacama Desert Soil Are Remarkably Diverse

by Keith CowingJanuary 15, 2026January 15, 2026

A new study shows that resilient and remarkably diverse populations of organisms can persist in the soil despite harsh and extremely dry conditions. An international team led by researchers from […]

The period of limit cycle events (color contours) depends on planetary obliquity and the magnitude of any additional greenhouse gas warming Fadd. Limit cycling is assumed to halt when CO2 condensation occurs. At high obliquity and large additional greenhouse forcing, climate remains warm and limit cycles do not occur. Calculations are performed at an early Earth solar constant of S/S 0 = 0.7 for a 1 bar N2 terrestrial planet atmosphere with an active carbonate-silicate cycle, 14% present-day volcanic outgassing rates, and a land-ocean distribution that corresponds to present Earth. -- astro-ph.EP

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Desert Worlds, Habitable Zones, Mars, Status Report

Limit Cycles And The Climate History Of Mars

by Keith CowingJanuary 14, 2026January 14, 2026

Evidence for fluvial features and standing liquid water indicate that Mars was a warmer and wetter place in its past; however, climate models have historically been unable to produce conditions […]

Small lakes on ancient Mars may have remained liquid for decades, even with average air temperatures well below freezing. -- Rice University

Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Habitable Zones, Icy Worlds, Mars, Press Release

Thin Ice May Have Protected Lake Water On Frozen Mars

by Keith CowingJanuary 6, 2026January 6, 2026

Using a climate model adapted for Martian conditions, a team of researchers from Rice University discovered that lakes in locations such as Gale Crater, near Mars’ equator, could have persisted […]

These sulfur crystals were found inside a rock after NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover happened to drive over it and crush it on May 30, 2024, the 4,200th Martian day, or sol, of the mission.

Astrochemistry, Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Desert Worlds, Fossils & Paleontology, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mars, Missions & Hardware, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, Status Report

Mars Curiosity Rover Observes Sulfur Crystals

by Keith CowingJanuary 5, 2026January 2, 2026

This image was captured by Curiosity’s Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), a camera on the end of its robotic arm, on June 4, 2024, the 4,205th Martian day, or sol, […]