What makes Mars different from Earth

According to Science Alert, scientists have discovered that the structure of Mars' core is quite similar to Earth's core. However, it is somewhat more compressible and less dense.

Violent tremors on Mars have been detected for the first time through its solid core, giving scientists new tools to figure out exactly what the core of Mars is made of.

How to find out the composition of Mars' core

Exploring the core of Mars is not an easy process. (Photo: Future).

According to seismic data collected by NASA's InSight probe over four years, the core of Mars is a liquid iron alloy, with large amounts of sulfur and oxygen mixed in.

The information above has helped scientists better understand the history of Mars and why Earth is different from this planet.

"In 1906, scientists first discovered the Earth's core by observing how seismic waves from earthquakes were affected as they passed through the core. More than 100 years later, we are applying our knowledge of seismic waves to Mars. With the InSight probe , we are finally discovering what's at the center of Mars and what makes it different from Earth," said geologist Vedran Lekic of the University of Maryland.

Accordingly, vibrations are not simply the rumbling noises that occur inside any object. Nowadays, many scientists have applied technology to use them as a kind of X-ray of sound.

Specifically, the vibrations will spread from their point of origin outward, bouncing around inside a planet, moon or star before coming to a rest. By passing through and reflecting off certain materials, scientists can create maps of the object's internal composition.

During its time spent inside Mars, InSight detected hundreds of quakes, providing useful information and details. From there, scientists were able to compile the first detailed map of Mars' core and learn more about its inner workings.

In 2021, InSight recorded two cataclysmic events on Mars. A massive earthquake and a meteorite impact rocked the red planet. These events took place on opposite sides of the planet and quite far away from InSight. So InSight had the opportunity to analyze different types of waves, including those traveling around Mars and those traveling through it.

These waves provide information about the density and compressibility of the different materials they travel through, helping a team led by planetary scientist Jessica Irving of the University of Bristol (UK) gradually discover the structure of Mars' core.

Accordingly, the outer core of Mars is determined to be liquid, the inner core is solid and the inner core is denser . In addition, there is a very high proportion of light elements mixed into the core of Mars.

Specifically, about one-fifth of its weight is made up of mainly sulfur, with small amounts of oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. This means that the Martian core is less dense and more compressible than the Earth's core.

The InSight probe conducts exploration around Mars. (Photo: NASA Mars Exploration).

Increasing the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life

It has long been known that Mars does not have a planet-wide magnetic field. On Earth, meanwhile, a magnetic field keeps the atmosphere and water from leaking into space. It is called the geodynamo , and it is generated in the Earth's core.

Accordingly, first, heat will move from the inner core to the outer core, forming circulating currents and twisting into different forms through the planet's rotation. Thanks to that, the magnetic field is formed and maintained.

As for Mars, scientists have previously simulated the planet's core and suggested that the presence of lighter elements in the core could be responsible for the loss of the magnetic field.

'In some ways, studying the Martian core is like a puzzle, for example, there are small traces of hydrogen in the Martian core. This means that there must be certain conditions that allow hydrogen to exist there, and we have to know these conditions to understand how Mars evolved ,' said Mr. Lekic.

Science Alert believes that discovering the composition of Mars' core could help increase the chances of finding life outside the Solar System. Mars and Earth are quite similar in many ways, so understanding how they differ and why would narrow down the search for the planet most likely to harbor life.