Life on Mars

The dusty-red sphere now called Mars has fascinated stargazers since the dawn of humanity, but Earthlings' view of the planet has changed drastically over the years.

Scientists recently announced they had discovered flowing water on Mars, boosting the odds of extraterrestrial life, but why is water so essential to life in the first place?

The enigmatic dark streaks called recurring slope lineae (RSL) that appear seasonally on steep, relatively warm Martian slopes are probably caused by salty liquid water, researchers said.

The world's saltiest body of water, hidden away in a dry Antarctic valley, had its portrait taken earlier this year by a NASA satellite.

A debate has long raged among scientists over the possible existence of life on Mars, and a new study is adding fuel to the fire.

The origins of organic matter found by Mars lander missions have long been debated, but a new study suggests a way to find out whether these chemicals of life came from the Red Planet or elsewhere.

A tiny, clay-filled bubble found in a Martian meteorite boosts the chances that Mars was habitable for life.

See stunning photos of Martian meteorites.