But in the ancient past—up until about 4.12 to 4.14 billion years ago—Mars seems to have had an inner dynamo powering a planet-wide magnetic field. What shut down the Martian dynamo?

The discovery, reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, adds weight to the theory that up to a third of Mars was once covered by oceans 3.6 billion years ago.

"These deposits, remnants of ancient water bodies, could indicate habitable zones from billions of years ago. "The discovery of nearly a thousand potential sites offers new insights into Mars ...

March 25 (UPI) --The NASA rover "Curiosity" discovered what scientists say is the largest ever seen organic molecules on Mars, raising speculation about if life was created billions of years ago ...

It could also resemble a massive metropolis with people unable to live outside of domes or other manmade structures for hundreds of years. The lack of gravity may cause humans on Mars to evolve ...

The Martian new year begins with data from a now-defunct rover spotting what appears to be an ancient shoreline streaking through Mars' northern ... for about 10,000 to 100,000 years — a ...