Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, has long fascinated scientists and space enthusiasts alike. Its rust-colored surface and surprising similarities to Earth have earned it the nickname “the Red Planet.” Covered in iron oxide, Mars also boasts some of the most extreme landscapes in the Solar System, including Olympus Mons—the tallest volcano—and Valles Marineris, a canyon system that would stretch across the United States.
Although today’s Mars is cold and hostile, with a thin atmosphere and subzero temperatures, there are signs it was once much more Earth-like. Ancient riverbeds and polar ice caps suggest that water once flowed across its surface, raising the possibility that simple life forms may have existed there.
The idea of terraforming Mars—essentially reshaping the planet to support Earth life—has captured imaginations for decades. Some see it as a way to secure humanity’s future or restore a world that once held water. Others hope to move beyond small outposts and build truly self-sustaining settlements, while expanding scientific discovery.
But before diving into ethical debates about changing another world, we first have to ask: is it actually possible? Amazingly, the last major review of Mars terraforming feasibility was published all the way back in 1991. Now, a new paper in Nature Astronomy brings fresh attention—and optimism—to the challenge.
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